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blue-sky thinking
Thinking that is not limited to commonly accepted norms or beliefs. Everyone said Einstein was a fool when he was growing up, but his blue-sky thinking led to some of the greatest scientific advances of his time.
build castles in the sky
To create dreams, hopes, or plans that are impossible, unrealistic, or have very little chance of succeeding. You need sound financial advice and a strong plan if you're going to start your own business—don't just build castles in the sky.
castles in the sky
Dreams, hopes, or plans that are impossible, unrealistic, or have very little chance of succeeding. He keeps talking about how he'll move to Los Angeles to be a famous actor, but it's just castles in the sky if you ask me. You need sound financial advice and a strong plan if you're going to start your own business—it can't be all castles in the sky.
out of the clear blue sky
Unexpectedly. She seemed so surprised by the news that it must have come out of the clear blue sky. You need to work hard—opportunities don't just appear out of the clear blue sky.
red sky at night, shepherd's delight
A red sky at sunset is a sign that good weather will follow. The full phrase is "Red sky at night, shepherd's delight; red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning." I think we're going to have a nice sunny day tomorrow. Look at that sunset—red sky at night, shepherd's delight.
red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning
A red sky at sunrise is a sign that bad weather will follow. The full phrase is "Red sky at night, shepherd's delight; red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning." I think we're going to get a bad storm today. Look at that sunrise—red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning.
come out of a clear blue sky
and come out of the clear blue sky; come out of the bluesuddenly; without warning. Then, out of a clear blue sky, he told me he was leaving. My sister Mary appeared on my doorstep out of the blue, after years with no word from her.
go sky-high
Fig. to go very high. Prices go sky-high whenever there is inflation. Oh, it's so hot. The temperature went sky-high about noon.
*high as a kite
and *high as the sky 1. Lit. very high. (*Also: as ~.) The tree grew as high as a kite. Our pet bird got outside and flew up high as the sky.
2. Fig. drunk or drugged. (*Also: as ~.) Bill drank beer until he got as high as a kite. The thieves were high as the sky on drugs.
pie in the sky
1. Fig. a future reward after death, considered as a replacement for a reward not received on earth. Don't hold out for pie in the sky. Get realistic. If he didn't hope for some heavenly pie in the sky, he would probably be a real crook.
2. Fig. having to do with a hope for a special reward. (This is hyphenated before a nominal.) Get rid of your pie-in-the-sky ideas! What these pie-in-the-sky people really want is money.
reach for the sky
1. and aim for the sky; shoot for the sky Fig. to set one's sights high. Reach for the sky! Go for it! You should always reach for the sky, but be prepared for not attaining your goals every time.
2. Fig. Inf. to put one's hands up, as in a burglary. The gunman told the bank teller to reach for the sky. Reach for the sky and give me all your money!
The sky's the limit.
Inf. there is no upper limit. I can afford it. The sky's the limit. You can do anything you set your mind to, Billy. The sky's the limit.
out of the blue
also out of a clear blue sky happening suddenly and unexpectedly Then one day, completely out of the blue, I had a letter from her. The attack came out of a clear blue sky.
Related vocabulary: out of thin airpie in the sky
something good that is unlikely to happen Our leaders need to offer more than pie in the sky when they talk about political and social issues.
the sky's the limit
also the sky is the limit there is no limit Smaller sailboats can be reasonably priced, but for bigger boats the sky's the limit.
out of a clear blue sky
See: out of the blueblow something sky-high
to make something that someone is trying to achieve fail completely, often by telling people something which should have been a secret He blew the whole deal sky-high by telling the newspapers about it.
out of the blue
(British, American & Australian) also out of a clear (blue) sky (American & Australian) if something happens out of the blue, it happens suddenly and you are not expecting it Then one day, completely out of the blue, I had a letter from her. The invasion came out of a clear blue sky and caught everyone off guard.
pie in the sky
if an idea or plan is pie in the sky, it seems good but is not likely to be achieved Those plans of his to set up his own business are just pie in the sky.
The sky's the limit.
something that you say which means there is no limit to what something or someone can achieve With two important film roles and a major award, it seems like the sky's the limit for this talented young actress.
blow sky-high
1. Destroy by explosion, explode, as in
Once the charge is set, get away fast or you'll be blown sky-high. [Early 1800s] Also see under
blow up.
2. Refute completely, as in The lab report has blown your theory sky-high. [Mid-1800s]
high as a kite
Intoxicated, as by alcohol, as in After three beers she's high as a kite. The adjective high has been used in the sense of "drunk" since the early 1600s; the addition of kite dates from the early 1900s. The phrase is now used of disorientation due to any drug.
out of a clear blue sky
Also,
out of the blue. Without warning, suddenly, as in
Her offer to help us with the fundraising came out of a clear blue sky, or
We got a check from Aunt Ruby out of the blue. These metaphoric terms allude to something dropping unexpectedly from the sky. [Late 1800s] Also see
out of nowhere.
pie in the sky
An empty wish or promise, as in His dream of being hired as a sports editor proved to be pie in the sky. This expression was first recorded in 1911 in a rallying song of a union, the International Workers of the World (or "Wobblies"): "Work and pray, live on hay, you'll get pie in the sky when you die."
reach for the sky
1. Set very high goals, aspire to the best, as in
I'm sure they'll make you a partner, so reach for the sky. The
sky here stands for high aspirations. Also see
sky's the limit.
2. Put your hands up high, as in One robber held the teller at gunpoint, shouting " Reach for the sky!" This usage is always put as an imperative. [Slang; mid-1900s]
sky's the limit, the
There is no limit (to ambition, aspirations, expense, or the like). For example, Order anything you like on the menu-the sky's the limit tonight, or He's so brilliant he can do anything-the sky's the limit. This metaphoric idiom was first recorded in 1920.
aim for the sky
and reach for the sky and shoot for the sky in. to aspire to something; to set one’s goals high. (See a different sense at reach for the sky.) Shoot for the sky, son. Don’t settle for second best. Don’t settle for less. Reach for the sky!
reach for the sky
verbshoot for the sky
verbeye-in-the-sky
n. an overhead surveillance camera, usually in a dome; a traffic police helicopter. The cops used an eye-in-the-sky to get the evidence and make the arrest.
pie in the sky
1. n. a reward; a special heavenly reward. If he didn’t hope for some heavenly pie in the sky, he would probably be a real crook.
2. mod. having to do with a hope for a special reward. (This is hyphenated before a nominal.) Get rid of your pie-in-the-sky ideas!
reach for the sky
1. Go to aim for the sky.
2. in. (a command) to put one’s hands up, as in a robbery. The bank teller reached for the sky without having to be told.
sky
in. to travel (to somewhere) in an airplane. I decided to sky down to Orlando for the weekend.
sky hook
n. an imaginary crane; an imaginary tool. I can’t get this thing outa here without a sky hook.
sky rug
n. a toupee; a man’s wig. I think he is wearing a sky rug.
the sky’s the limit
phr. there is no upper limit. You can do anything you set your mind to, Billy. The sky’s the limit.
sky-pilot
n. a chaplain. The sky-pilot says we can park in the church’s lot, if we don’t mess anything up or make too much noise.
out of the blue
1. From an unexpected or unforeseen source: criticism that came out of the blue.
2. At a completely unexpected time: a long-unseen friend who appeared out of the blue.
pie in the sky
An empty wish or promise: "To outlaw deficits ... is pie in the sky" (Howard H. Baker, Jr.)