English Idiom – Pipe dream.
An idea or plan that is very unlikely to happen. An impossibility or an unrealistic dream. A pipe dream is a dream that is probably not going to happen, because it is just a fantasy.
This idiom originated as a reference to the dreams experienced by opium pipe smokers.
Related Idioms:
- Chasing Rainbows (idiom) – To be pursuing pipe dreams.
- La-la Land (slang) – An imaginary place where people are out of touch with reality.
Usage:
When could you use this idiom?
- You are sharing your fantasies with friends.
- Somebody who you know has set themselves unrealistic goals.
- You are trying to convince your friend that they can make their dreams come true – their hopes are not just pipe dreams!
Example:
- “I wish that I could achieve world peace, but I know it is nothing more than just a pipe dream.”
Learn More
Look it upPipe dreamWiktionaryWhat is an idiom?
An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally. An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words, but has a separate meaning of its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
A hope or plan that is very unlikely ever to happen.
It comes from the dreams of people who smoked opium pipes in the 1800s.
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