a counsel of perfection

a counsel of perfection

Instructions or advice given for one to attain an ideal but unfeasible or unrealizable standard. But in the current market, those enter the workforce are coming up against a counsel of perfection, demanding that they have not only a college degree or two, but also several years' experience and a huge list of professional references if they hope to find any job that pays more than minimum wage.
See also: counsel, of, perfection
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

a counsel of perfection

advice that is ideal but not feasible.
1986 E. Hall in Home Owner Manual Twice yearly desludging has been recommended but this is probably a counsel of perfection.
See also: counsel, of, perfection
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • perfection
  • strings attached
  • with strings attached
  • that cat won't jump
  • get one up on (someone or something)
  • be under orders
  • play (all) the angles
  • like gold dust
  • vie for (something)
  • vie over (something)
References in periodicals archive
She took the command to love your enemies seriously, not just as a counsel of perfection for a select few, but as a standard for Christian discipleship, which put her very much at odds with the mainstream.
The gifts of Saint Dorothy Day
This is indeed a counsel of perfection, unlikely to be heeded by writers who think they have something to say.
Meinertzhagen's Diary Ruse: False Entries on T.E. Lawrence