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- DictionaryPipe dream/ˈpīp ˌdrēm/
noun
- 1. an unattainable or fanciful hope or plan: "free trade in international aviation will remain a pipe dream"
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What's the origin of the phrase 'Pipe dream'? The phrase ‘pipe dream’ is an allusion to the dreams experienced by smokers of opium pipes. Opiates were widely used by the English literati in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Jul 9, 2011 · Today I found out the origin of the phrase “pipe dream”, meaning “a fantastic hope or plan that is generally regarded as being nearly impossible to achieve.”. This phrase first popped up in the 19th century, with the earliest known documented case coming from Chicago, Illinois; specifically, coming from the December of 1890 issue of the ...
Jun 17, 2017 · The term pipe dream denotes an unattainable or fanciful hope or scheme. Of American-English origin, it originally referred to the kind of visions experienced when smoking an opium pipe. This is clear from an early instance of pipe dream in an article about Rex Felix, the carnival king at the Mardi-Gras festival, published in the San Francisco ...
The exact origin of the phrase “pipe dream” is unclear, but it likely dates back to the early 19th century. Some sources suggest that it may have originated in reference to opium dreams – a popular pastime among writers and artists at the time.
Jun 21, 2020 · pipe dream. (n.) the sort of improbable fantasy one has while smoking opium, 1870, from pipe (n.1) in the smoking sense + dream (n.). Old English pipdream meant "piping," from dream in the sense of "music." also from 1870.
Sep 30, 2023 · Where Does “Pipe Dream” Come From? The term originates from the 19th century. People who smoked opium pipes would often experience vivid, unrealistic dreams as a side effect. Therefore, their dreams, or "pipe dreams," were seen as unattainable and not based on reality. Historical Usage. A notable historical reference can be found in literature.
Origin of: Pipe dream. Pipe dream. A pipe dream is an unattainable hope or fantasy and is first cited in America from the late 19th century. The allusion is to the delusions or euphoria induced by smoking an opium pipe.
