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pie in the sky

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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.

See also: pie, sky

pie 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.

See also: pie, sky

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.

See also: pie, sky

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."

See also: pie, sky

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!

See also: pie, sky

pie in the sky

An empty wish or promise: "To outlaw deficits ... is pie in the sky" (Howard H. Baker, Jr.)

See also: pie, sky