pipe dream
Castle in air
A pipe dream is a hope or plan that is unrealistic or impractical—pleasant to imagine but unlikely to materialize.
The term originally referred to the fantastical visions induced by smoking opium.
Now it applies to any wishful thinking: Universal free healthcare remains a pipe dream in American politics.
His plan to retire at forty was a pipe dream.
Impossible to acquire
- impracticalNot suited for use
- far-fetchedUnconvincingly unlikely or strained
- impossibleIncapable of occurring
- quixoticImpractically pursuing lofty goals
utopian · infeasible · unachievable · unworkable · improbable · fanciful · chimerical · illusory
Conscious fantasy while awake
- wishful thinkingBelief shaped by desire
- imaginationFaculty for forming ideas
- make-believeImaginative play or fantasy
- escapismHabitual mental retreat
reverie · whimsy · dreamworld · figment · fancy · flight of fancy · wool-gathering · fantastical
Desire for achievement
- goalDesired end result
- hopeDesire for good outcomes
- yearningIntense prolonged craving
- longingIntense, persistent desire
desire · wish · ideal · vision · expectation · prospect · wanting · craving
Imaginative planner of futures
- idealistPursuer of noble principles
- optimistHabitually hopeful person
- romanticConducive to love
- starry-eyedNaively romantic or idealistic
naive · innocent · Pollyanna · rose-colored glasses · head in the clouds · impractical · unworldly · perfectionist
unattainable
Impossible to acquire
- impracticalNot suited for use
- far-fetchedUnconvincingly unlikely or strained
- impossibleIncapable of occurring
quixotic · utopian · infeasible · unachievable · unworkable · improbable · fanciful · chimerical · illusory · airy-fairy
daydream
Conscious fantasy while awake
- wishful thinkingBelief shaped by desire
- imaginationFaculty for forming ideas
- make-believeImaginative play or fantasy
escapism · reverie · whimsy · dreamworld · figment · fancy · flight of fancy · wool-gathering · fantastical · air castle
ambition
Desire for achievement
longing · desire · wish · ideal · vision · expectation · prospect · wanting · craving · hankering
visionary
Imaginative planner of futures
starry-eyed · naive · innocent · Pollyanna · rose-colored glasses · head in the clouds · impractical · unworldly · perfectionist
- dream phrasessweet dreams, daydream, nightmare, broken dreams, shattered dreams
- obstacle coursesmonkey bars, cargo nets, rope climb, wall climb, balance beam
- Old Idiomsbeyond the pale, hue and cry, scot-free, knight in shining armor, eat humble pie
- wishful thinkingif only, what if, one day, fingers crossed, with any luck
- fantasiesdaydream, fantasy, wishful thinking, illusion, make-believe
- idealisticidealist, idealistic, utopian, quixotic, visionary
pipe dreamsure thing
Guaranteed outcome or agreement
certainty · foregone conclusion · done deal · reality · fait accompli
pipe dreamreality
What actually exists
fact · actuality · hard truth · brass tacks
pipe dreamaction plan
Outlined steps forward
blueprint · roadmap · game plan · feasibility study · business plan
dream, pipe, dreaming, pipes, dreamer, piping, dreamed, pipeline, dreamland