Meaning of liquid light

Question

"Sam paced around the desk four times before he fell back in his leather executive chair and clamped his hands on his temples as if trying to squeeze out a solution. Instead he thought of police and prison and felt hope running through his fingers like liquid light, leaving him dark with despair."

Thanks so much.

Avangi · Accepted Answer

Jin_Hand felt hope running through his fingers like liquid light

Wow! An implied metaphor crowned with a simile!

Pardon my ignorance, but I don't think there is such a thing as "liquid light."
But if there were, it would be "light" to represent hope, and "liquid" so that it could run through his fingers like sand, the more common elusive substance.

This time I had the answer right here in my hand,
But I touched it, and it had turned to sand. - Jim Webb (Didn't We?)

MrPedantic · Answer

You could also say, since his hands are against his temples, that he feels as if the light of hope is streaming out of his head and through his fingers, leaving his mind in darkness.

The phenomenon is quite difficult to replicate. (I have tried.)

MrP

Avangi · Answer

Thanks, MrP.
Somehow that part of the description slipped through my fingers! (clamped his hands on his temples)

The hope = light; dispair = dark image is key, and I failed to mention it.

Meaning of liquid light

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