Castles in the air

Meaning

The idiom "castles in the air" means to plan or daydream about something grand or elaborate that is unlikely to happen in reality. It can also mean making promises or plans without any intention of fulfilling them. The phrase comes from a children's fairy tale "Cinderella," where Cinderella's stepmother and stepsisters ask her what she wishes to be when she grows up, and she answers with a fantasy about living in a castle made of candy.

Usage

• "I like to daydream about winning the lottery and buying myself a huge mansion by the beach."
• "Don't count on him to keep his promise to help you move; he's been known to make castles in the air before."
• "She has big dreams of becoming a famous singer, but it's unlikely to happen given her lack of talent and experience."
• "We need to focus on realistic goals for our project instead of casting our hopes too high."
• "He promised to be there for me when I needed him, but he's been nowhere to be found lately. Maybe he was just casting castles in the air again." The usage of this idiom can vary depending on the context, as it can be used with both positive and negative connotations. For example, daydreaming about a castle made of candy may seem like a harmless activity, but making promises you don't intend to keep can damage your reputation and relationships.

Roots and History

The earliest known use of the phrase "castles in the air" can be traced back to the French fairy tale "Cinderella," where Cinderella's stepmother and stepsisters ask her what she wishes to be when she grows up, and she answers with a fantasy about living in a castle made of candy. The phrase was later used in English literature by William Shakespeare in his play "The Tempest." Over time, the idiom has come to refer to any grand or elaborate plans that are unlikely to happen in reality.

Synonyms in English

• Daydreaming
• Fantasizing
• Dreaming big
• Wishing upon a star
• Hoping for the best

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish - "Nublar el horizonte" (to make the horizon cloudy)
• French - "Rêver les choses" (to dream of things)
• German - "Träume hin und her" (to daydream)
• Italian - "Sognare di un giorno" (to dream of a day)
• Chinese - "憾想" (to regret wishing)

Similar Idioms

• it’s a small world

• sneak peek

• kick the habit