in the abstract

phrasal

: with reference to theoretical considerations only : apart from practical or actual conditions

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in the abstract

1. As an abstraction

2. In theory

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Main Entry: ↑abstract

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in the abstract phrase

thinking about something only as a general idea without referring to real situations or practical experience

They were only talking about good and evil in the abstract.

Thesaurus: words used to describe thoughts, beliefs and ideas_synonym

Main entry: abstract

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in a general way; without reference to specific instances

there's a fine line between promoting U.S. business interests in the abstract and promoting specific companies

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in the abstract

: without referring to a specific person, object, or event : in a general way

thinking about freedom in the abstract

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Main Entry: ↑abstract

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in the ˈabstract idiom

in a general way, without referring to a particular real person, thing or situation

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Legal questions rarely exist in the abstract; they are based on real cases.

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I'm just talking in the abstract now.

Main entry: ↑abstract_idiom