What Does โDespair of sbโ Mean?
โDespair of sbโ means to lose hope or confidence in someone because they have disappointed you or failed to improve.
Introduction
The phrase โdespair of sbโ is often used when someone feels hopeless or frustrated about another personโs behavior or actions. It expresses a sense of giving up on someone because they seem unwilling or unable to change. Understanding the despair of sb meaning helps learners describe strong feelings of disappointment in a clear and natural way. This phrase is common in both spoken and written English, especially when discussing relationships, work, or personal growth. Knowing how to use โdespair of sbโ correctly will improve your ability to express emotions and experiences related to loss of hope in others.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: despair of sb (somebody)
- Type: Inseparable
- Level: B2โC1
- Short meaning: To lose hope in someone
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โDespair of sbโ is an inseparable phrasal verb, which means you cannot place words between โdespairโ and โof.โ The structure is always:
- Despair + of + somebody
Examples:
- I despair of him.
- She despairs of her sonโs behavior.
The object is always a person (sb = somebody).
How to Use โDespair of sbโ?
Use โdespair of sbโ when you want to express frustration or hopelessness about someoneโs actions or character. It is often used in personal contexts, such as family or friendships, and can also appear in formal writing or speech. The phrase often carries a serious or emotional tone.
Common verbs and expressions used with โdespair of sbโ include:
- I despair of
- We are beginning to despair of
- She has completely despaired of
Examples
- I despair of my brother ever finding a steady job.
- Teachers sometimes despair of students who donโt try hard.
- She despairs of her husband changing his bad habits.
- We all despair of the teamโs poor performance this season.
- He began to despair of his friendโs honesty after so many lies.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: I despair him.
Correct: I despair of him. - Incorrect: She despairs about her son.
Correct: She despairs of her son. - Incorrect: They despair on their friend.
Correct: They despair of their friend.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrases include:
- Give up on sb: To stop trying to help or support someone. Less formal and more common in daily speech.
- Lose hope in sb: Similar meaning but more general, can be used with or without โof.โ
- Despair of sb: More formal, focuses on deep emotional hopelessness.
Example comparison: โI give up on himโ sounds more casual, while โI despair of himโ expresses a stronger emotional disappointment.
Common Collocations
- Despair of someoneโs behavior
- Despair of someoneโs future
- Despair of someoneโs progress
- Despair of someoneโs honesty
- Despair of someoneโs decisions
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of despair of sb:
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: I donโt know what to do anymore. My brother keeps making the same mistakes.
Ben: I understand. Sometimes, you just despair of him.
Anna: Exactly. I feel like he will never change.
Ben: Itโs hard, but donโt lose hope completely.
Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of โdespair of sbโ:
- She _______ her sonโs laziness after years of trying to motivate him.
- We sometimes _______ our neighborโs noisy parties.
- He began to _______ his friendโs honesty after the incident.
FAQs
- Q: Can โdespair of sbโ be used in the past tense?
A: Yes, for example, โI despaired of him.โ - Q: Is โdespair of sbโ formal or informal?
A: It is more formal and usually used in serious contexts. - Q: Can I use โdespair ofโ with things, not people?
A: Generally, โdespair ofโ is used with people (sb). For things, use โdespair of something.โ - Q: What is the difference between โdespair of sbโ and โgive up on sbโ?
A: โDespair of sbโ is stronger and more emotional, while โgive up on sbโ is more casual. - Q: Is โdespair of sbโ separable?
A: No, it is inseparable; โofโ must always follow โdespair.โ
