castle in the air

castle in the air
noun
absentminded dreaming while awake
Syn:
Derivationally related forms: ↑daydream (for: ↑daydreaming), ↑daydream (for: ↑daydream)
Hypernyms: ↑dream, ↑dreaming

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also castle in spain
Usage: usually capitalized S
: a visionary project : daydream

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a fanciful or impractical notion or hope; daydream. Also called air castle, castle in Spain.
[1570-80]

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castle in the air,
something imagined but not likely to come true; daydream: »

They built castles in the air, and thought to do great wonders (Sir Thomas North).

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castle in the air (also castle in Spain)
: a dream, plan, or idea that can never become real
— usually plural

He's just building castles in the air if he thinks he can open a restaurant without any money.

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Main Entry:castle

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Castle in the air — Castle Cas tle, n. [AS. castel, fr. L. castellum, dim. of castrum a fortified place, castle.] 1. A fortified residence, especially that of a prince or nobleman; a fortress. [1913 Webster] The house of every one is to him castle and fortress, as… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • castle in the air — n. an imaginary scheme not likely to be realized; daydream: also castle in Spain …   English World dictionary

  • Castle in the Air — Infobox Book | name = Castle in the sky title orig = translator = image caption = Cover from the American edition. author = Diana Wynne Jones illustrator = cover artist = country = United Kingdom language = English series = The Castle Series… …   Wikipedia

  • Castle in the Air (film) — Castle in the Air is a 1952 British comedy film directed by Henry Cass and starring David Tomlinson, Helen Cherry, Margaret Rutherford and Gordon Jackson. The English owner of a Scottish castle discovers that it is haunted by the spirit of a… …   Wikipedia

  • castle in the air — noun A visionary project or scheme; a day dream; an idle fancy; a pipe dream; any plan, desire, or idea that is unlikely to be ever realized; a near impossibility. Syn: castle in the skies, castle in Spain …   Wiktionary

  • castle in the air — See: BUILD CASTLES IN THE AIR …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • castle in the air — See: BUILD CASTLES IN THE AIR …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • castle\ in\ the\ air — See: build castles in the air …   Словарь американских идиом

  • castle in the air — cas′tle in the air′ n. a fanciful or impractical notion or hope; daydream. Also called cas′tle in Spain′ • Etymology: 1570–80 …   From formal English to slang

  • castle in the air — a fanciful or impractical notion or hope; daydream. Also called air castle, castle in Spain. [1570 80] * * * …   Universalium

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