will o' the wisp

1. Any of several kinds of pale, flickering light, appearing over marshland in many parts of the world with diverse folkloric explanations and multiple possible scientific explanations including bioluminescence and chemiluminescence.

   Irrlicht, Sumpflichter, Irrwisch

   блужда́ющий огонёкbluždájuščij ogonjók

   вогники мандрівніvohnyky mandrivni, блукаючі вогніblukajuči vohni, мандрівні вогніmandrivni vohni

2. Any of several kinds of pale, flickering light, appearing over marshland in many parts of the world with diverse folkloric explanations and multiple possible scientific explanations including bioluminescence and chemiluminescence.

   (UK)A flickering light or lantern, especially over bogs, swamps or marshes, held by a supernatural creature who uses it to lure travelers at night to their demise.

3. (figuratively)A delusionary or otherwise unachievable goal that one feels compelled to pursue.

1. Will-o'-the-wisps are glowing, ghost-like creatures.

   deIrrlichter sind leuchtende, geisterhafte Wesen. — Waldelfe

   Myrano_ · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FR · C2Open on TatoebaReport a problem

2. Will-o'-the-wisp is the light phenomenon traditionally ascribed to ghosts.

   Myrano_ · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FR · C2Open on TatoebaReport a problem

3. Look, will-o'-the-wisps!

   Johannes_S · Tatoeba · CC BY 2.0 FR · C2Open on TatoebaReport a problem

regular

• will-o'-the-wispalternative
• will-o'-wispalternative
• will of the wispalternative
• will-in-the-wispalternative
• Will-with-the-wispalternative