Term Gallery logo

Meanings of will-o'-the-wisp in English

Portuguese
fogo fatuo
Catalan
foc follet
Spanish
fuego fatuo

A pale light sometimes seen at night over marshy ground.

fogo fatuo
Usage of will-o'-the-wisp in English
1
I call you 'the will-o'-the-wisp girl' to my own private soul.
The Keeper of the Door
2
If will-o'-the-wisp really did represent a natural process, there are some possible explanations that Garlaschelli could test.
BBC
3
The correct rate is no more than a will-o'-the-wisp, changing from day to day in response to changing economic conditions.
The Irish Times
4
Once her eyes had adjusted, she could see little will-o'-the-wisp lights, so faint and pale that they hardly had color at all.
Jem
5
The former Kilkenny will-o'-the-wisp is playing senior hurling for 10 years, but had to wait until this game to win his first senior county medal.
The Irish Times
6
The will-o'-the-wisp cast a terrified look at each one in turn.
The Neverending Story
7
I could call will-o'-the-wisps, but the spiders weren't impressed by them.
A kiss of shadows
8
All three looked at the will-o'-the-wisp, who was wriggling with embarrassment.
The Neverending Story
9
The thought of a conversation between Roger and this young will- o'-the-wisp tickled her.
Aimez-vous Brahms
10
I can conjure my own will-o'-the-wisp, thank you very much.
A kiss of shadows
11
There is no getting hold of the Will-o'-the-Wisp that is the Irish festival trail.
The Irish Times
12
The will-o'-the-wisp coalesced into a glowing ball, shining in the air before John's knees.
Dragonshadow
13
Goblins have little magic, only petty charms, slumbersongs, will-o'-the-wisp lanterns.
The witch queen
14
The will-o'-the-wisp itself belonged to a family that was hardly reputed for truthfulness or reliability.
The Neverending Story
15
He is a veritable will-o'-the-wisp, scurrying here and there in his never-ending search for marauders.
A Confederacy of Dunces
16
The will-o'-the-wisps generated by our rotting lives are at least a light in our darkness.
The book of disquiet
Translations for will-o'-the-wisp
Catalan
foc follet