From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englisha ray of hope/light etca ray of hope/light etcHOPEsomething that provides a small amount of hope or happiness in a difficult situation a treatment that offers a ray of hope for cancer sufferers → ray
Examples from the Corpus
a ray of hope/light etc• Besides, today there had been a ray of hope.• But the Red Or Dead catwalk show offered a ray of hope.• Each time a ray of light passes through a lens it is slightly weakened.• The Government's resignation is a victory, a ray of hope to take into the dark days ahead.• Amid the crushing disappointment of the general election there was a ray of light for the Conservatives.• But only when a ray of light attempts to pierce this darkness does the real, eerie action unroll. 