build castles in the air
Indulge impossible schemes
To build castles in the air is to indulge in fanciful plans or daydreams unlikely to come true.
The image is of constructing something grand on nothing solid—pure fantasy without foundation: He spent his twenties building castles in the air instead of pursuing a real career.
The phrase suggests pleasant but impractical thinking.
Unrealistic aspiration
- chimeraUnrealistic fantasy or hybrid
- utopianImpractically perfect in conception
- quixoticImpractically pursuing lofty goals
- impracticalNot suited for use
unattainable · delusion · mirage · fool's paradise · ivory tower · pie in the sky · moonshine · impossible dream
Indulge in wishful thinking
- reverieAbstracted, pleasant daydream
- wishful thinkingBelief shaped by desire
- musingReflective contemplation
- woolgatheringAbsent-minded indulgence in fantasy
dreaminess · escapism · imagine · envisage · visualize · contemplation · fanciful · whimsical
pipe dream
Unrealistic aspiration
- chimeraUnrealistic fantasy or hybrid
- utopianImpractically perfect in conception
- quixoticImpractically pursuing lofty goals
impractical · unattainable · delusion · mirage · fool's paradise · ivory tower · pie in the sky · moonshine · impossible dream · unrealizable
fantasize
Indulge in wishful thinking
- reverieAbstracted, pleasant daydream
- wishful thinkingBelief shaped by desire
- musingReflective contemplation
woolgathering · dreaminess · escapism · imagine · envisage · visualize · contemplation · fanciful · whimsical · absentminded
build castles in the airtake action
Begin doing something
get down to brass tacks · roll up one's sleeves · get one's hands dirty · buckle down · knuckle down
build, builds, built, building, builder, builders, rebuild, rebuilding, rebuilt