A feeling of disappointment or frustration resulting from the failure of one's hopes, dreams, or expectations to materialize. From dashed (broken, destroyed) + hopes. The term 'dashed-hopes' has been used in English since the 19th century to describe a feeling of disappointment or frustration resulting from the failure of one's hopes, dreams, or expectations to materialize. The term combines the verb 'dash', which means 'to destroy or frustrate', with the noun 'hopes', referring to one's aspirations or desires.