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Glite Dictionary
glass-half-full

glass-half-full

3 5.8
Seeing the good side of things
  • adjective
  • Informal
translation icon : optimista
  • The first is that you are such a 'glass half full' kind of gal; your enthusiasm for our show always shines through, and I LOVE that.
  • see the glass-half-full
  • glass-half-full kind
  • glass-half-full person

Yeah, glass half full, kind of kind of the same thing.

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Examples

  • But if you're a glass-half-full type of person, one silver lining is that there are some great deals on homes right now.

    Blog text (15)

  • Rather than continue to lament the cancellation of UFC 151 and the fact that I no longer have an excuse for avoiding dinner with my mother-in-law this weekend, I've decided to take a glass half-full approach to it all.

    Blog text (22)

  • And I am trying to be a glass half full and kind of just, you know, move on.

  • You could look at the glass half full, you know, you can do all these wonderful things if it's yours.

  • Usually, I am a glass half full kind of woman; my family often says I live in my own world.

    Blog text (22)

  • But make your decisions out of a glass half full, not out of panic.

  • Obviously I try and look at the glass half full versus empty.

  • I am a glass-half-full kind of gal, even when the glass is nearly empty.

    Blog text (15)

  • I'm a glass half-full kind of gal, so it makes me happy when I see good reactions to an episode.

    Blog text (21)

  • She always sees the situation as glass-half-full, believing that good outcomes are possible.

Synonyms

optimistic
vsglass-half-full
426 3.2

Expecting good things to happen in the future

is the idiomatic phrase used for the same positive outlook
hopeful
vsglass-half-full
189 1.8

Feeling positive and expecting a good result

is a general positive attitude rather than one specific expectation
cheerful
vsglass-half-full
111 1.0

Happy in a way you show with a smile or friendly actions

is about expecting good outcomes rather than present cheerfulness
upbeat
vsglass-half-full
99 3.8

Feeling cheerful and hopeful, sometimes too positive for the situation

is a plain optimistic outlook without implied unreality
rosy
vsglass-half-full
26 3.2

Expecting good things in the future

is a broader positive attitude not necessarily a confident prediction
sanguine
vsglass-half-full
10 7.4

Cheerful and hopeful in a difficult situation

is a general positive outlook not focused on hardship response
rose-colored
vsglass-half-full
  • Informal
2 5.6

A view that is too hopeful and ignores problems

is neutral optimism without implying a naive or unjustified view
beamish
vsglass-half-full
  • Archaic
1 9.9

Smiling brightly because you feel happy

is about a steady positive outlook rather than outward radiance
yeppity
vsglass-half-full
  • Slang
9.9

Feeling very happy, excited, and full of energy

is a steadier hopeful attitude rather than short energetic excitement
Pollyannaish
vsglass-half-full
9.9

Being too hopeful about things and not seeing clear problems

is a realistic positive attitude rather than naive blind optimism
Pollyannish
vsglass-half-full
9.9

Being very hopeful even when things seem bad

is a balanced positive view rather than extreme naive optimism

Antonyms

glass half-empty
  • Informal
2 6.5

A person who often sees the negative side of things

How Optimistic

sanguine
10 7.4
optimistic
426 3.2
glass-half-full
  • Informal
3 5.8
hopeful
189 1.8

Surface Forms

glass-half-full positive

Morphology

glass-half-full = glass + half + full (semi-transparent) = glass + half + full

The components are literal and obvious, but the overall idiomatic meaning 'optimistic' is a metaphorical extension that learners must know.

Etymology

Glass-half-full comes from the simple image of a glass partly filled with liquid: if you focus on the half that is full instead of the 'half empty', you see the positive side. So calling someone glass-half-full means they are 'optimistic' and expect good things.