guiding light
4
4.2
- noun
- /ˈɡaɪdɪŋ laɪt/
:
luz guía
- Walter and Rousseau and John Stuart Mill, these were the guiding lights of the time.
So do that math and then use that as your guiding light, your north star of what activities you need to be doing daily to hit that target.
- So do that math and then use that as your guiding light, your north star of what activities you need to be doing daily to hit that target.
- And now that fire will be the only guiding light for humanity as the world descends into the darkness of the Second World War.
- And if you don't have that blinding guiding light, when you scale, you will fall apart.
- I also want to thank Stephanie Gumbel, who organized this event, and Clayton Spencer, who was a guiding light behind it.
- And like my kind of guiding light of what's important to me.
Examples
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You are our teachers, our guiding lights, and our inspirations.
-
We are the guiding light to tolerance and compassion.
Blog text (1) -
"Musical education can be for every child a guiding light for their entire life.
Academic text (1997) -
May your wonderful words be the guiding light so many of us need to pull through...
Blog text (32) -
You are our guiding light!
Blog text (23) -
Perhaps most importantly, America is still the guiding light in the world for people seeking freedom and democracy.
Academic text (1991) -
As a visionary, I see the importance of a shared vision as the guiding light for educational development.
Academic text (1993) -
Should these top schools be viewed as exemplars whose achievements serve as guiding lights that all can achieve?
Academic text (2011) -
She had been such a vital guiding light in Lloyd's life that we expected him to sink into depression.
Academic text (2010) -
His integrity and character made him a guiding light in Congress.
Synonyms
320
1.0
A person who leads and gives information on trips or in new places
14
7.6
A famous person who inspires or influences others in a field
3
7.2
A person who leads and inspires others in a cause
3
5.5
A person who is respected and helps shape a group's ideas or work
1
9.4
Someone who guides and inspires others
A person or group that gives hope and shows people how to behave
A person who helps others think clearly and feel inspired
A person who leads a group and shows the way
How Inspirational
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derivable by combining 'guiding' (directing/influencing) with 'light' used metaphorically as a source of guidance, yielding 'a person who leads or inspires.' This metaphorical use of 'light' as guidance is common in English and across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would likely infer the MWE's meaning.
Etymology
The phrase guiding light comes from the image of a bright guiding light, like a lighthouse or lamp, that shows the way to people or ships. That's why calling someone a guiding light means they 'lead' or 'inspire' others and help them find the right way.