cage of expectations

9.8

A situation where people feel trapped by what others think they should do

noun

: jaula de expectativas

After years of living in a cage of expectations, he finally pursued his own dreams.

Examples

Many people struggle to break free from the cage of expectations built by family and peers.
The film depicts the protagonist escaping the cage of expectations that limited her true potential.
She felt trapped in a cage of expectations from her family.
Breaking free from the cage of expectations is essential for personal growth.
After years of living in a cage of expectations, he finally pursued his own dreams.
Many people struggle to break free from the cage of expectations built by family and peers.
Breaking free from the cage of expectations is essential for personal growth.

Synonyms

prison

vscage of expectations

223 5.6

A place or situation that makes someone feel trapped

focuses more on restriction coming specifically from external social pressures

cage

vscage of expectations

150 5.7

A situation that limits a person's freedom or movement

is the figurative label that stresses social origin of the limit

confinement

vscage of expectations

80 5.9

A state of being kept in a small closed space and unable to move freely

is metaphorical and specifically blames social pressures for that lack

straitjacket

vscage of expectations

7 7.5

A situation that greatly limits freedom and progress

is similar but highlights pressure coming from social expectations rather than rules

gilded cage

vscage of expectations

1 8.1

A comfortable but limiting situation that traps someone

is similar but does not imply the attractiveness or luxury element

prison of one's own making

vscage of expectations

Literature

1 9.3

A situation that keeps a person trapped by their own choices

focuses instead on limits imposed by outside social rules and expectations

trap of expectations

vscage of expectations

7.5

A feeling of being held back by what other people expect you to do

has the same meaning but uses a different phrase

societal trap

vscage of expectations

7.7

A situation where what others expect limits a person's choices

is the metaphorical way to name that same social restriction

iron cage

vscage of expectations

Formal

8.6

A situation that traps people and stops them from making free choices

is like this but usually frames limits as social expectations rather than systems

Antonyms

freedom

489 1.1

Not having to do something a rule requires

liberation

127 3.9

The act of setting people free from control or unfair treatment

How Restrictive

oppression

120 5.5

cage of expectations

9.8

tolerance

160 3.7

Surface Forms

cage of expectations singular

cages of expectations plural

Morphology

cage + of + expectation

The meaning is directly and transparently derived from combining 'cage' (a restriction on freedom) with 'expectations' (social pressures or beliefs about how one should behave), so the phrase clearly signals being trapped by expectations. This is a productive metaphorical composition common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words can readily infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

Cage of expectations gives a clear picture: imagine being inside a cage made of other people's plans and hopes, where the expectations act like bars. That's why it means being 'restricted' or 'kept from being yourself' by what others want.