pie in the sky

== English == === Etymology === The phrase is originally from the song “The Preacher and the Slave” (1911) by Swedish-American labor activist and songwriter Joe Hill (1879–1915), which he wrote as a parody of the Salvation Army hymn “In the Sweet By-and-By” (published 1868). The song criticizes the Salvation Army for focusing on people’s salvation rather than on their material needs: You will eat, bye and bye, In that glorious land above the sky; Work and pray, live on hay, You’ll get pie in the sky when you die. === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈpaɪ ɪn ðə ˈskaɪ/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈpaɪ ɪn ðə ˈskaɪ/, /ˈpaɪ ən ðə ˈskaɪ/ Rhymes: -aɪ === Noun === pie in the sky (uncountable) (idiomatic) A fanciful notion; an unrealistic or ludicrous concept; the illusory promise of a desired outcome that is unlikely to happen. ==== Synonyms ==== castle in the air eggs in moonshine jam tomorrow pipe dream the cake is a lie ==== Derived terms ==== pie-in-the-sky (adjective) ==== Translations ==== === Adjective === pie in the sky (comparative more pie in the sky, superlative most pie in the sky) Alternative form of pie-in-the-sky. === References === === Further reading === pie in the sky (disambiguation) on Wikipedia.Wikipedia “The Preacher and the Slave” on YouTube