pipe dream

noun
UK: /ˈpaɪp driːm/
US: /ˈpaɪp driːm/

  1. A hope or plan that is impossible to achieve or not practical.

    1. His plan to become a movie star is just a pipe dream.
    2. Building a house on the moon is a pipe dream unless technology advances significantly.

Synonyms

fantasy delusion illusion wishful thinking
pipe dream intransitive-verb

  1. To have a hope or plan that is impossible to achieve.

    1. Are you pipe dreaming about winning the lottery?
    2. Don't pipe dream, face reality and concentrate on something achievable instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "pipe dream" is /ˈpaɪp driːm/ in British English and /ˈpaɪp driːm/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "pipe dream": fantasy, delusion, illusion, wishful thinking.

Example usage of "pipe dream": "His plan to become a movie star is just a pipe dream.". More examples on the page.