castles in the air
castles in the air
Dreams, hopes, or plans that are impossible, unrealistic, or have very little chance of succeeding. You need sound financial advice and a strong plan if you're going to start your own business—don't just build castles in the air. He keeps talking about how he'll move to Los Angeles to be a famous actor, but it's just castles in the air if you ask me.
See also: air, castle
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
castles in the air
Also, castles in Spain. Dreams about future success, as in Musing about the bestseller list, she was apt to build castles in the air. The first term dates from the late 1500s. The variant, castles in Spain (or chateaux en Espagne), was recorded in the Roman de la Rose in the 13th century and translated into English about 1365.
See also: air, castle
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
castles in the air
If you describe someone's plans as castles in the air, you mean that they are not realistic and have no chance of succeeding. `Along the way, I intend to become very rich.' He shook his head in wonder at her. `You're building castles in the air, Anne.' This could be seen as an admission that Carter's election promises were just castles in the air.
See also: air, castle
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
(build) ˌcastles in the ˈair
(have) plans, hopes, etc. which are unlikely to become reality: They talked about moving to Australia, but they knew they were really only building castles in the air.See also: air, castle
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
- build castles in Spain
- build castles in the air
- build castles in the sky
- Spain
- castles in Spain
- castles in the sky
- be in a dream world
- a lost cause
- lost cause
- lost cause, a