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false dawn

noun [C usually singular]
 
 

Definition

something that seems to show that a successful period is beginning or that a situation is improving when it is not: The increase in sales at the end of the year proved to be a false dawn.FailuresAccidents and disastersHigher and lower points of achievement
(Definition of false dawn noun from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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