blue-sky thinking

noun

1. creative ideas that are not limited by current thinking or beliefs

Example Sentences

Indeed, it may be some blue-sky thinking from a player, no matter how brilliant, who has not won a trophy in his career for club or country.

From BBC

Blue-sky thinking started early in the development of AI.

From Scientific American

James Ker-Lindsay, a Balkans expert at the London School of Economics, says "blue-sky thinking" is one way for European leaders to tackle the region's seemingly intractable issues.

From BBC

To Mr Sisolak, innovation zones represent the blue-sky thinking needed to revitalise Nevada's tourism-reliant economy after the coronavirus pandemic.

From BBC

That allowed for more ambitious, blue-sky thinking when it came to the PS5, especially as it related to creating a full sensory experience without a virtual reality headset.

From Los Angeles Times

More About Blue-Sky Thinking

What is blue-sky thinking?

Blue-sky thinking refers to ideas that are not limited by the current beliefs or norms of a group or society.

Blue-sky thinking can be ideas that are creative or whimsical and maybe even bizarre. Such thinking might lead to just the solution you need. Or it might lead to something that doesn’t work at all. Because blue-sky thinking results in ideas so different from ideas built on common beliefs or experience, you won’t know the outcome until you try them. Blue-sky thinking can be an important part of coming up with something new and unconventional.

Blue-sky thinking might also be described as thinking outside the box, especially in business. 

Example: We’ve been so focused on balancing the budget that we haven’t had time for any blue-sky thinking.

Where does blue-sky thinking come from?

The first records of the term blue-sky thinking are unknown. It combines the term blue-sky, meaning “fanciful or impractical,” with thinking, meaning “thought or judgment.”

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for blue-sky thinking?

• fanciful thinking
• outside-the-box thinking

What are some words that share a root or word element with blue-sky thinking? 

• blue-sky
• blue-sky law
• thinking
• thinking cap

What are some words that often get used in discussing blue-sky thinking?

• business
• inspiration
• unrestricted

How is blue-sky thinking used in real life?

Blue-sky thinking is used to describe thinking that may be impractical, unconventional, or inspirational.

Dear Parcel Delivery Companies,

Here's a novel idea. How about you read the address and deliver the parcel? I know it sounds like a crazy, outside-the-box, blue-sky thinking, nutty idea, but i really think there's a gap in the market for a company that just delivers the parcel

— Dr Panti Bliss-Cabrera (@PantiBliss) October 26, 2018

Blue-sky thinking is best done under a blue sky. Seriously. Running can increase cognitive flexibility, so inspiration can flow #Run4Ideas

— Brooks Running (@brooksrunning) April 21, 2016

Landing on the hard reality that life isn't always fair doesn't have to suffocate blue-sky thinking because there's plenty of "dreaming air"

— Mark Chironna (@markchironna) January 4, 2016

 

Try using blue-sky thinking!

Is blue-sky thinking used correctly in the following sentence?

“Since our usual solutions aren’t working, it’s time for some blue-sky thinking.”