build castles in the air

Political satire (1740): "Spain by Folly, Castles builds, and places them in Air."

Meaning

Verb

To have any desire, idea, or plan that is unlikely to be realized; to imagine visionary projects or schemes; to have an idle fancy or a pipe dream; to daydream.

Origin

The first term dates from the late 1500s. A variant, castles in Spain (or châteaux en Espagne), was recorded in the Roman de la Rose in the 13th century and translated into English around 1365.

Modern English dictionary

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