pie in the sky
Fantasy, not reality
Pie in the sky is a pleasant prospect that will probably never materialize—an empty promise or wishful thinking.
The phrase comes from a 1911 labor song mocking preachers who promised heavenly rewards while ignoring earthly suffering: "You'll get pie in the sky when you die." Now it describes any attractive but unrealistic plan: His talk of doubling profits is just pie in the sky.
Imaginative mental wandering
- illusionMisleading sensory impression
- pipe dreamUnrealistic aspiration
- wishful thinkingBelief shaped by desire
- castle in the airUnrealistic scheme or fantasy
daydream · chimera · mirage · impractical · unattainable · quixotic · fanciful · delusory
Imagined perfect society
- dreamSleeping mind's narrative
- aspirationStrong desire for achievement
- visionaryImaginative planner of futures
- hopeDesire for good outcomes
optimism · ambition · ideal · nirvana · paradise · promised land · heaven on earth · golden age
fantasy
Imaginative mental wandering
- illusionMisleading sensory impression
- pipe dreamUnrealistic aspiration
- wishful thinkingBelief shaped by desire
castle in the air · daydream · chimera · mirage · impractical · unattainable · quixotic · fanciful · delusory · improbable
utopia
Imagined perfect society
- dreamSleeping mind's narrative
- aspirationStrong desire for achievement
- visionaryImaginative planner of futures
hope · optimism · ambition · ideal · nirvana · paradise · promised land · heaven on earth · golden age · perfect world
- daydreamingdaydreaming, daydreams, fantasies, deep in thought, musings
- food idiomspiece of cake, bread winner, low-hanging fruit, cool as a cucumber, bad egg
- wishful thinkingif only, what if, one day, fingers crossed, with any luck
- idealisticidealist, idealistic, utopian, quixotic, dreamer
- impracticalitiesimpracticality, pipe dream, castle in the air, fool's errand, wild goose chase
- unattainablepipe dream, mirage, fantasy, utopia, chimera
pie in the skysure thing
Guaranteed outcome or agreement
done deal · safe bet · low-hanging fruit · slam dunk · within reach
pie in the skybrass tacks
Essential facts discussed
nuts and bolts · feet on the ground · hard facts · nitty-gritty · bottom line
pie in the skybird in hand
A sure possession
bird in the hand · sure thing · money in the bank · cash in hand · immediate gratification
pier, pies, piety, skyline, pied, skylight, skyward, piecemeal, piebald