“Pipe Dream” Meaning, Origin and Examples

Last updated on October 11, 2024 by Liam Daniel

You may have frequently heard the term Pipe dream used in English conversation, you may have also wondered what this term means. We are now going to take a look at the meaning of this phrase and see how it can be used in day to day conversation. We will also look at a little bit of the history behind the phrase and where it originally came from.

Pipe Dream Meaning, Origin and Usage

Key Takeaways

  • A “pipe dream” is an unrealistic or impractical hope or plan that is unlikely to be achieved. It refers to wishful thinking or fanciful ideas with little chance of becoming reality.
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Pipe Dream Meaning

A “pipe dream” refers to an unrealistic or impractical hope, goal, or plan—something that is unlikely to happen or is based on wishful thinking rather than achievable reality. The term often carries a connotation of something fanciful or overly optimistic, with little chance of becoming real.

Origin of this Idiom

The term Pipe dream finds its origins in the 19th century when people would smoke opiates through a pipe. When they were high from the drugs, they would talk about impossible dreams and ambitions which they never truly believed they would reach, therefore coining the term a Pipe dream.

Usage of “Pipe Dream”

  1. “Owning a mansion in the city is a pipe dream for most people.” (It’s unrealistic for many to expect to afford a mansion in the city.)
  2. “He has big plans to travel the world without a job, but I think it’s just a pipe dream.” (The idea of traveling the world without a stable income seems impractical.)
  3. “Starting my own company with no experience might be a pipe dream, but I’m determined to try.” (Although starting a company without experience seems unrealistic, the person still wants to attempt it.)
  4. “The idea that we could build a colony on Mars within the next decade is still a pipe dream.” (The concept of colonizing Mars in such a short time is considered highly unlikely.)
  5. “Winning the lottery and quitting my job is a fun thought, but it’s probably just a pipe dream.” (Expecting to win the lottery and live off the winnings is unlikely to happen.)

In all of these examples, “pipe dream” conveys the idea of an aspiration that seems almost impossible or too far-fetched to be achievable.

Related Terms to “Pipe Dream”

  • Fantasy – Refers to an imagined, often impossible idea or scenario.
  • Wishful thinking – The act of hoping for something to happen even though it’s very unlikely.
  • Daydream – An imagined scenario or idea, often pleasant but unrealistic.
  • Illusion – A false idea or belief that is not grounded in reality.
  • Chasing rainbows – Pursuing something unattainable or impractical.
  • Castles in the air – Plans or dreams that are unrealistic or unlikely to materialize.
  • Unattainable goal – A goal that is impossible or extremely difficult to achieve.
  • Flight of fancy – An idea or notion that is imaginative but unlikely to happen.

Other Ways to Say the Idiom

There are many other ways in which you can express the meaning of the term Pipe dream, here are some examples of other things you might say.

  • Wishful thinking
  • Impossible dream
  • Utopian dream

“Pipe Dream” Examples

Examples in Statements

To see how the term Pipe dream can work in our day to day speech, here are some examples of the phrase being used in sentences.

  • “My mother always wanted to own a bakery but it was a bit of a pipe dream as she can’t bake.” 

This is a statement being made by a son about his other.

  • “I would love to travel the world, but with a family of five, it is more of a pipe dream than anything else.” 

Here is a statement being made by a man about his aspiration of travelling the world.

More useful examples:

  • I have this pipe dream about being emperor of the universe.
  • Her plans for a movie career were nothing but a pipe dream.
  • Father’s plan to build a forest cabin by the lake was just a pipe dream.
  • His scheme for building a perpetual – motion machine is just a pipe dream.
  • For me, a pipe dream to travel to The Moon.

Conversation Examples

In order to see how the idiom Pipe dream can fit into a conversation, here are some examples showing its use within them

The first conversation is taking place between a teacher and a student.

  • Person 1: “What do you plan to do when you leave school?”
  • Person 2: “I would love to become a lawyer but it’s a pipe dream.”
  • Person 1: “Why do you think that?”
  • Person 2: “I don’t think I will get good enough marks on my exams.”

This next conversation is happening between two friends.

  • Person 1: “I love to swim.”
  • Person 2: “Yes and you are so good at it, why not train to enter the Olympics?”
  • Person 1: “I have always wanted to but my dad says it’s just a pipe dream.”

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