n. The irrational belief that, despite all evidence to the contrary, things will turn out for the best.
2011
You'd better not shout, pout or cry because you know who might be coming to town. At least that seems to be the growing feeling among commentators. Realistic? Or is it a case of, as CNBC beautifully put it on Wednesday, markets being on a new drug called hopium?
2011
Another reason for yesterday's equity index performance was reported to be, as one analyst coined the term, 'hope-ium' that Euro governments discussing coordinated, tougher and enforceable fiscal policies would eventually resolve that trading bloc's sovereign debt woes.
2001 (earliest)
One solution that comes to everyone's mind…is Voice-to-text software. However interesting and Star Wars-like it might seem such "hopium" is years away (if at all) from meeting even the minimum accuracy requirements stated above.
It is possible that Sir Wilfred Lawson may head a great Ante-opiate Movement, the object of which will be to get all people afflicted with toothache to pledge themselves to abstain from laudanum. It will, of course, be marshalled under the title of The Band of Hope-ium!