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Synonyms
Examples of pipe dream in a Sentence
His plan for starting his own business was just a pipe dream.
opening our own restaurant has long been a pipe dream
Recent Examples on the Web
Could Poland produce an equally seismic surprise at Euro 2024?
Even the most optimistic Poland fan, and for that matter soccer fan, would think this to be a pipe dream far beyond one’s wildest imagination.
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Aleks Klosok, CNN, 11 June 2024
But as Variety reports, the now A-list cast is busy with other projects, the character arcs reportedly have to be reworked to accommodate a time jump, and a production start date is but a pipe dream in Sam Levinson’s head.
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Zoe Guy, Vulture, 11 June 2024
For now, at least, many of Thomas’s most reactionary opinions remain pipe dreams, but he’s successfully persuaded much of the Republican legal establishment to carry his banner.
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Ian Millhiser, Vox, 10 June 2024
Stipanovich, however, said DeSantis’ further ambitions may be a pipe dream.
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Jeffrey Schweers, Hartford Courant, 28 Jan. 2024
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pipe dream.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
from the fantasies brought about by the smoking of opium
First Known Use
1890, in the meaning defined above
Articles Related to pipe dream
Dictionary Entries Near pipe dream
Cite this Entry
“Pipe dream.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pipe%20dream. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
Kids Definition
pipe dream
noun
: an unreal and fantastic idea, wish, or story
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