Had his own wishful thinking tried to give him an answer?

Maybe it's wishful thinking, but I believe she will make the cut.

Had he built the whole thing up from wishful thinking?

Almost always, though, it was just his wishful thinking at work.

Or it might be just a case of wishful thinking.

Or maybe that was just wishful thinking on his part.

Or maybe it was only wishful thinking on his part.

Of course I know the answer but it's just wishful thinking.

But that was wishful thinking on my part, and I knew it.

There was no place for wishful thinking in a situation like that.