can but hope

短语

词形变化

could but hope 过去式 could but hope no past participle 过去式 no present participle 三单

释义与例句

v.
  1. 1.

    To be unable to do anything (about something) other than hope [with that (+ clause); or (informal) with clause; or with so or (negative) not]; especially with long odds.

    英国 过时

    We can but hope that he returns alive.

词源

Ellipsis of can do nothing but hope or can do naught but hope.

来源：wiktionary