glass half full/half empty

glass half empty

Of or characterized by a generally pessimistic worldview. (Typically hyphenated and used as a modifier before a noun.) Mark is such a glass-half-empty kind of guy that he will find a way to see even the best situation in a negative light. When it comes to the state of the world, most people are glass half empty. But they forget all the progress that has been made.See also: empty, glass, half

glass half full

Of or characterized by a generally optimistic worldview. (Typically hyphenated and used as a modifier before a noun.) Rebecca has such a glass-half-full mentality that even when her company went bankrupt she simply saw it as a learning experience for the future. I tend to be pretty glass half full most of the time. I just don't see the point in thinking the worst of everything.See also: full, glass, half

see the glass as half empty

To view a situation as generally worse or less hopeful than might otherwise be perceived; to be pessimistic. When it comes to the state of the world, most people see the glass as half empty. But they forget all the progress that has been made.See also: empty, glass, half, see

see the glass as half full

To view a situation as generally better or more hopeful than might otherwise be perceived; to be optimistic. When it comes to the state of the world, I tend to see the glass as half full. People forget all the progress that has been made.See also: full, glass, half, see

(see the) ˌglass half ˈfull/half ˈempty

used to describe whether somebody has a positive or negative attitude towards something: People are prepared to see the glass half full at the moment rather than half empty. ♢ He’s a glass-half-full type of guy (= he always expects good things to happen).See also: empty, full, glass, half