Everyday Idiom 1010: Pipe dream
Post 1 of 10
My friend Johnny has this pipe dream about becoming a famous movie star. But it won't ever happen. He doesn't have any talent, and he has this high, squeaky voice people don't like to hear.
Just because I don't speak good English, don't you guys laugh behind my back and say it's just a pipe dream for me to learn Chinese. Well, give me a couple of years and I'll show you how fluent I can be.
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09 Oct 2007 22:26
Post 2 of 10
Replying to [Admin]:
A pipe dream is a fantastic hope or plan that is generally regarded as being nearly impossible to achieve. The term derives from the opium pipe, and dates to the late nineteenth century when opium smoking was common in the United States. More specifically, the term derives from the euphoric optimism that is one of the effects of smoking high quality opium. Depending on how much opium is smoked, intoxication may last from eight to twelve hours. During this time smokers go through a period of euphoria followed by a more relaxed state of contentment and well being. Beginning in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, popular literature and music began using the term "pipe dream" to describe any idea or plan whose probable outcome would never reach initial expectations.
I'd love to have one home in the mountains and another at the seashore, but that's just a pipe dream.
Two friends are talking about another guy's ambitions to play in the NBA.
A: What do you think of his plan to become a professional basketball player?
B: Well, to be honest, I think it's a pipe dream.
A: Why do you say that?
B: Well, first of all, he's not a good basketball player. He's short. And he's almost 30 years old.
A: Yeah, I guess it is a bit of a pipe dream.
A pipe dream is a fantastic hope or plan that is generally regarded as being nearly impossible to achieve. The term derives from the opium pipe, and dates to the late nineteenth century when opium smoking was common in the United States. More specifically, the term derives from the euphoric optimism that is one of the effects of smoking high quality opium. Depending on how much opium is smoked, intoxication may last from eight to twelve hours. During this time smokers go through a period of euphoria followed by a more relaxed state of contentment and well being. Beginning in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, popular literature and music began using the term "pipe dream" to describe any idea or plan whose probable outcome would never reach initial expectations.
I'd love to have one home in the mountains and another at the seashore, but that's just a pipe dream.
Two friends are talking about another guy's ambitions to play in the NBA.
A: What do you think of his plan to become a professional basketball player?
B: Well, to be honest, I think it's a pipe dream.
A: Why do you say that?
B: Well, first of all, he's not a good basketball player. He's short. And he's almost 30 years old.
A: Yeah, I guess it is a bit of a pipe dream.
09 Oct 2007 23:30
Post 3 of 10
Replying to [Admin]:
i always make Pipe dream:i want to travel the world around with my parents one day,and want to fall across a Mr right tomorrow.![[em10]](http://img.alibaba.com/images/eng/style/icon/emoticons_silly.gif)
i always make Pipe dream:i want to travel the world around with my parents one day,and want to fall across a Mr right tomorrow.
10 Oct 2007 07:15
Post 4 of 10
Replying to [Admin]:In the early age,Mr Martin luthur kinn said that he had a dream. we should also have so many pipe dreams.which can lead us to success.Having a pipe dream means that we are ambitious .Don't worry about it ,just have confidence .pls give it a shot!![[em1]](http://img.alibaba.com/images/eng/style/icon/emoticons_smile.gif)
![[em15]](http://img.alibaba.com/images/eng/style/icon/emoticons_wish_you_wealth.gif)
10 Oct 2007 07:47
Post 5 of 10
Replying to [Admin]:
Pipe dream means never endless wishes or hope. like the pipe philosophy it has no end as it still as pipe. the right valve will make the wishes come true as the pipe end. and that will take the effort and willingness to find how to create the valve as the key to make the wishes came true.
![[em29]](http://img.alibaba.com/images/eng/style/icon/emoticons_frown.gif)
makes me wonder if life is such a plumbing structure ![[em3]](http://img.alibaba.com/images/eng/style/icon/emoticons_grin.gif)
. we have so many pipes which as choices of our life path.
![[em12]](http://img.alibaba.com/images/eng/style/icon/emoticons_surprised.gif)
we need plumber. anyone??
Pipe dream means never endless wishes or hope. like the pipe philosophy it has no end as it still as pipe. the right valve will make the wishes come true as the pipe end. and that will take the effort and willingness to find how to create the valve as the key to make the wishes came true.
makes me wonder if life is such a plumbing structure . we have so many pipes which as choices of our life path. we need plumber. anyone??
19 Oct 2007 06:21
Post 6 of 10
Replying to [Admin]:
A pipe dream is a hope or plan that is regarded as being nearly impossible to achieve. The term derives from the euphoric optimism that is one of the effects of smoking high quality opium. During this time smokers go through a period of euphoria followed by a more relaxed state of contentment and well being. Beginning in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, popular literature and music began using the term "pipe dream" to describe any idea or plan whose probable outcome would never reach initial expectations.
![[em20]](http://img.alibaba.com/images/eng/style/icon/emoticons_victory.gif)
A pipe dream is a hope or plan that is regarded as being nearly impossible to achieve. The term derives from the euphoric optimism that is one of the effects of smoking high quality opium. During this time smokers go through a period of euphoria followed by a more relaxed state of contentment and well being. Beginning in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, popular literature and music began using the term "pipe dream" to describe any idea or plan whose probable outcome would never reach initial expectations.
22 Oct 2007 10:24
Post 7 of 10
Replying to [Admin]:
Basically its to look through a Pipe (or a telescope) and see the other end, the way one would want to be. A far fetched Idea, that in the current stage isn´t realistic at all, since the walls of the pipe fade out all the troubles and undertakings dark (the unknown) towards that dream, that you only see on the other end,
Therefore people condemn them to be dreamers, since they go against all odds. But I must say due to pipe dreams, we humans were able to fly, go to Space, and Globalise the world through the power of technology.
All dreams at one time are far fetched and not possible, but all of them came true, which history has proven.
Only your hard work determines the outcome, no matter what people say.
Basically its to look through a Pipe (or a telescope) and see the other end, the way one would want to be. A far fetched Idea, that in the current stage isn´t realistic at all, since the walls of the pipe fade out all the troubles and undertakings dark (the unknown) towards that dream, that you only see on the other end,
Therefore people condemn them to be dreamers, since they go against all odds. But I must say due to pipe dreams, we humans were able to fly, go to Space, and Globalise the world through the power of technology.
All dreams at one time are far fetched and not possible, but all of them came true, which history has proven.
Only your hard work determines the outcome, no matter what people say.
07 Nov 2007 15:41
Post 8 of 10
Replying to [Admin]:
Pipe Dream:
**A cherished desire.
** A fantastic but vain hope, driven by fantasies and dreams.
![[em7]](http://img.alibaba.com/images/eng/style/icon/emoticons_shy.gif){kind=icon}
07 Nov 2007 22:17
Post 9 of 10
Replying to [Admin]:Pipe Dream became a slang term with the Drilling for OIL. If you struck Oil your future changed over night. One day you were working the next day you would never worry about money or bills again.
This is similar to Aladdin's Lamp! All things will be granted unto you! The reason it is used negatively is from all the families who risked everything to drill for oil. Most of the time no oil was found.
Many of the kids in schools are chasing the pipe dream that they will play professional sports.![[em9]](http://img.alibaba.com/images/eng/style/icon/emoticons_dizzy.gif)
It is commonly used to rebuke someone who is risking to much.
This is similar to Aladdin's Lamp! All things will be granted unto you! The reason it is used negatively is from all the families who risked everything to drill for oil. Most of the time no oil was found.
Many of the kids in schools are chasing the pipe dream that they will play professional sports.
It is commonly used to rebuke someone who is risking to much.
27 Nov 2007 16:26
Post 10 of 10
Replying to [Admin]:I'm sure you will encounter your Mr right one day
27 Nov 2007 19:24
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