false dawn

figuratively

A thin ambient light which precedes true dawn, typically by around an hour, in certain parts of the world.

Japanese Meaning

真の夜明けに先立って現れる、薄く穏やかな光。特定の地域では、通常、真の夜明けの約1時間前に観察される現象を指す。

On the boat, we mistook the false dawn for the real sunrise and hurried to the deck.

船の上で、私たちは真の夜明けより約一時間早く現れる薄明を本当の朝日と間違えて甲板に急いだ。

Sense（1）

A thin ambient light which precedes true dawn, typically by around an hour, in certain parts of the world.

Sense（2）

(figuratively) Something engendering premature hope; a promising sign which in fact leads to nothing.

false dawns

（ plural ）