What Does โDespair of doing sthโ Mean?
โDespair of doing sthโ means to lose hope or confidence that something can be done successfully. It expresses a feeling of giving up on achieving a task or goal.
Introduction
The phrase โdespair of doing sthโ is used to describe a state of hopelessness about completing a particular action or task. When someone despairs of doing something, they have tried or thought about it but believe it is impossible or too difficult to achieve. Understanding the despair of doing sth meaning helps learners express frustration or resignation in English clearly. This phrase is often used in both formal and informal contexts to describe emotional reactions to challenging situations. Knowing how to use โdespair of doing sthโ correctly will improve your fluency and ability to communicate feelings of discouragement.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: despair of doing something
- Type: Intransitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: To lose hope in being able to do something
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โDespair of doing sthโ is an inseparable phrase. You cannot separate โdespairโ and โofโ or place the object between them.
Common pattern:
- Despair of + verb-ing (gerund)
- Example: She despairs of finding a solution.
The verb after โofโ is always in the gerund form (doing, finding, getting, etc.).
How to Use โDespair of doing sthโ?
Use โdespair of doing sthโ when you want to express that someone no longer believes they can accomplish a task. It often conveys feelings of frustration or hopelessness after repeated attempts or difficulties.
It fits well in sentences where the subject loses hope about an action. The phrase is common in formal writing, storytelling, and everyday conversations about challenges.
Examples
- After many failed attempts, he began to despair of passing the exam.
- She despairs of finishing the project on time because of constant delays.
- We must not despair of finding a way to solve this problem.
- They despair of winning the competition after so many losses.
- He despairs of getting the job due to his lack of experience.
These examples show how โdespair of doing sthโ expresses losing hope regarding different actions.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: She despairs doing the task.
Correct: She despairs of doing the task. - Incorrect: They despair to finish the work.
Correct: They despair of finishing the work. - Incorrect: I despair about to find a solution.
Correct: I despair of finding a solution.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar expressions include:
- Give up on doing sth: More casual; implies quitting rather than just feeling hopeless.
- Lose hope of doing sth: Very close in meaning, but โdespairโ is stronger and more emotional.
- Be discouraged from doing sth: Focuses on losing motivation rather than complete hopelessness.
โDespair of doing sthโ emphasizes a deep loss of hope, while โgive upโ suggests actively stopping the effort.
Common Collocations
- Despair of finding a solution
- Despair of passing an exam
- Despair of finishing a project
- Despair of getting a job
- Despair of winning a competition
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of despair of doing sth:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: Iโve been trying to fix my computer for hours, but nothing works.
John: Donโt despair of fixing it just yet. Sometimes it takes a bit of patience.
Anna: I hope youโre right. Iโm starting to lose hope.
Practice
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the phrase:
After several failed attempts, he began to _______ of solving the problem.
- a) despair to solve
- b) despair solving
- c) despair of solving
- d) despair about to solve
Answer: c) despair of solving
FAQs
- Q: Can I use โdespair ofโ with a noun?
A: No, โdespair ofโ is followed by a verb in the -ing form, not a noun directly.
- Q: Is โdespair of doing sthโ formal or informal?
A: It is more formal but can be used in everyday speech.
- Q: What is the difference between โdespair ofโ and โgive up onโ?
A: โDespair ofโ means to lose hope, while โgive up onโ means to stop trying.
- Q: Can I say โdespair to do sthโ?
A: No, always use โdespair of doing sthโ with the gerund.
- Q: Is โdespair of doing sthโ common in American English?
A: It is more common in British English but still understood in American English.
