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The English idiom “castles in the sky” refers to unrealistic plans or ideas. Skeptics may call those who have them “dreamers” or “fantasists,” while idealists defend them by encouraging big thinking and dreaming.
People who use the English idiom “castles in the sky” refer to plans or ideas they naively believe are unrealistic or have little chance of succeeding. This can be about personal goals and aspirations, or bigger ideas about the world as it is and as it should be. In various English-speaking communities, individuals use one set of phrases to talk about these unrealistic aspirations and another set of labels to talk about the people who express them.
As an idiom, building castles in the air is part of the metaphorical classification of sentences. The speaker or writer is using the visual image of castles, usually massive and spectacular structures built of stone, being assembled in the sky, as a metaphorical way to talk about something that is completely impossible, or nearly so. A similar phrase, “pie in the sky,” is also metaphorical, but implements a more abstract visual image. English speakers also use other synonymous phrases, such as the phrase “pipe dream” to describe unrealistic goals or objectives. Alternatively, they may also use scenario-based idioms to describe an outcome as extremely unlikely, such as the phrase “what will happen when the pigs fly” or “when hell freezes over”.
Those accused of harboring “castle in the sky” ideas are often derisively portrayed by skeptics who believe their ideas are untenable. These individuals are often called “dreamers” to illustrate that their ideas are just “dreams” that will not ultimately come true. They may also be called “stargazers” or “fantasists.” Used with varying amounts of sarcasm and intensity, this type of expression helps skeptics express disbelief. Some synonyms for “dreamer” are more positive, while those who see others as creating “castles in the sky” in a positive way might call them “romantic.”
Against the above types of expressions, those who are more idealistic about some issues have created their own popular phrases and expressions to defend the idea of promoting idealism. For example, someone who talks about “thinking big” often encourages the audience to “dream” of what could be. A rebuttal to the skepticism comes in the form of a popular song, now known around the world, in which the singer says “you may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one” in which listeners are asked to “imagine” the world as it could be. This interplay of idioms is a touching illustration of how differently people see the world.
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