Pollyanna
A Pollyanna is someone who always looks on the bright side, often in a way others find unrealistic; the name comes from the story of Pollyanna in Eleanor H. Porter's novel Pollyanna. The everyday label is usually more critical than the book's picture of its heroine.
Where Pollyanna comes from
The girl and her game
In Pollyanna, an orphan goes to live with her stern Aunt Polly. She tries to find something to be glad about in every situation.
Pollyanna explains that she once hoped for a doll but received crutches in a charity parcel. Her father helped her find comfort in not needing the crutches.
In Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter
The everyday label
Calling someone a Pollyanna usually suggests that their optimism overlooks real trouble. It can sound dismissive rather than admiring.
After an accident leaves Pollyanna unable to walk, she struggles to find any reason for gladness. This moment in Pollyanna shows that her hope is not simply ignorance of suffering.
In Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter
How to use Pollyanna
- Use Pollyanna for a person whose optimism seems unrealistic.
- Explain which difficulty their cheerful outlook overlooks.
- Choose a kinder word if you mean to praise their hope.
Is calling someone a Pollyanna an insult?
It is usually a mild criticism, though tone matters. The label suggests that someone is too cheerful to judge a problem clearly. If the intention is praise, words such as hopeful or resilient are less likely to suggest that the person ignores difficult facts.
Is Pollyanna herself as unrealistic as the expression suggests?
Not entirely: Pollyanna experiences real grief and finds her own approach difficult after her accident. In Pollyanna, looking for reasons to be glad is a practice that helps people endure hardship, not proof that hardship does not exist. The everyday expression loses some of that distinction.
Related terms
Books where you can see Pollyanna
200,000+ classics to read and hear, and printed books, large print included, at cost.
Try 3 months free
