HOPIUM

What Does HOPIUM Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

HOPIUM is a fictional drug that induces unfounded optimism.

More Detail...

Hopium is a combination of the words "hope" and "opium." It is typically used humorously or disparagingly to refer to someone expressing irrational optimism. For example:

You think I'm gonna date you, just because you bought me a drink? You need to lay off the hopium!
Anyone who thinks they are going to be able to stage a comeback after that performance, must be smoking class A hopium.
They are on the hopium if they think they will retain control after the mid-terms.

The concept of hopium is similar to that of copium, which is a fictional drug that helps with coming to terms with a situation.

Image for HOPIUM

When I write HOPIUM, I mean this:

"Fictional Drug That Induces Unfounded Optimism"

Summary of Key Points

"Fictional Drug That Induces Unfounded Optimism" is, by far, the most common meaning for HOPIUM when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)

HOPIUM
Definition:	Fictional Drug That Induces Unfounded Optimism
Type:	Word
Guessability:	3: Guessable
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

An Academic Look at HOPIUM

As it is formed by merging two words (or parts of words) into one, hopium is classified as a portmanteau word. It is formed by amalgamating hope and opium. Other examples of portmanteau words are smog (smoke and fog), flurona (flu and corona), and brunch (breakfast and lunch).