castle in the air

noun

1. a fanciful or impractical notion or hope; daydream.

castle in the air

noun

1. a hope or desire unlikely to be realized; daydream

Word History and Origins

Origin of castle in the air¹

First recorded in 1570–80

Example Sentences

Opened in 1926, the sprawling, 13-acre Cal Neva was “the Castle in the Air” straddling the Golden and Silver states, where guests could “dine and dance in California and play in Nevada,” according to an article in the Nevada State Journal from 1935.

From Los Angeles Times

“I’ve got the key to my castle in the air, but whether I can unlock the door remains to be seen,” observed Jo mysteriously.

From Literature

Jo laughed, and Meg sharply ordered her not to talk, then amiably promised to make her hair curl, and fell asleep to dream of living in her castle in the air.

From Literature

“Wouldn’t you have a master for your castle in the air?” asked Laurie slyly.

From Literature

The dream of filling home with comforts, giving Beth everything she wanted, from strawberries in winter to an organ in her bedroom, going abroad herself, and always having more than enough, so that she might indulge in the luxury of charity, had been for years Jo’s most cherished castle in the air.

From Literature