pipe dream
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
His initial rationale—to oust the oppressive regime, so the Iranian people could take over—was always a pipe dream.
From Slate • Jun. 1, 2026
The oil-futures market thinks oil will fall from $98 a barrel today to $80 by September and $75 by Christmas — but that may be a pipe dream.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 11, 2026
When Koy was moving up the comedy ranks under his real name Joseph Glenn Herbert, the thought of calling himself a comedian felt like a pipe dream.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 5, 2026
Yes, you could argue that the inconsistency is on the field, but it is a pipe dream to expect overall consistency when every situation is slightly different.
From BBC • Mar. 1, 2026
Jefferson's version of a classless American society was therefore a pipe dream, because the source of the problem was not European feudalism but human nature itself.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
