What Is the Meaning of a ‘Pipe Dream’?

4 Min Read | By Liam Porter

Last Modified 20 May 2025   First Added 8 October 2021

This article was written and reviewed in line with our editorial policy.

We’ve all heard it, probably even used it – that dismissive yet slightly wistful term, ‘pipe dream.’ It’s a label we put on ambitions deemed too out there. Have you ever thought about what this common phrase really means or where it comes from? Let’s explore the phrase, which goes beyond its definition as an unrealistic hope.

A ‘pipe dream’ offers us a tiny glimpse into human dreams and societal history, as well as the very real substances that once blurred the lines between fantasy and reality. Examining hidden meanings in common expressions creates more depth in our language and gives us a deeper appreciation for the stories words tell.

The meaning of 'pipe dream'

A ‘pipe dream’ is an idea, hope, or plan that is unrealistic or impossible to achieve. It’s not an actual type of dream, but rather a waking thought or goal that sounds nice in theory but is very unlikely to come true.

Examples of pipe dreams

Now that we understand the basic meaning of ‘pipe dream’, let’s look at some examples. The most effective way to understand a concept is by directly observing its application in real-life situations. So we have put together the following examples to show you how this phrase may arise in everyday situations:

  • At almost 40 years old, his ambition to become a Premier League footballer was a pipe dream.
  • Despite centuries of democracy, finding a useful politician remains a pipe dream.
  • Winning the lottery and retiring at 30 is a nice thought, but probably just a pipe dream.
  • She had a pipe dream of becoming a famous actress, even though she’d never taken acting lessons.

What all these ‘dreams’ have in common is that they’re highly unrealistic. However, they’re still the kind of things people often daydream about and imagine, even if they’re unlikely to ever come true.

Where does the saying 'pipe dream' come from?

The saying “pipe dream” is widely believed to have originated from the hazy, hallucinatory effects of smoking opium through a pipe. In the mid-to-late 19th century, opium use was widespread in the U.S., particularly after the Civil War, when morphine became a common treatment for chronic pain. The vivid and surreal visions experienced by users were often detached from reality, much like the unrealistic hopes or fantasies the phrase refers to today. Though some link the term to England’s opium, using Romantic poets, its rise to popularity in America likely reflects the opium crisis of the era, with opium dens becoming common in cities and the drug deeply embedded in both medicine and trade.

The earliest known written use of ‘pipe dream’ in its modern sense comes from an 1890 article in the Chicago Tribune, which referred to aerial navigation as a ‘pipe-dream’. But even before that, the phrase appeared in political speeches, suggesting it was already in everyday use.

While the exact origin is difficult to trace to help us identify why it’s called a ‘pipe dream’ today, it’s clear the expression grew from a time when literal pipe-induced dreams were part of everyday life, making the leap from opium-induced fantasy to idiom for unattainable hopes.

Uses of the term 'pipe dream' in popular culture

‘Pipe dream’, or ‘pipe dreams’ appears in the title of several films – one of the more notable being the debut acting performance of soul singer Gladys Knight for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe. Similarly, there is no shortage of appearances on the stage or in song – in fact, one of the shortest-lived Rogers and Hammerstein productions was titled “Pipe Dream” and sees one of the main characters move to live in an abandoned boiler. Wikipedia goes as far as to describe the production as “a financial disaster”.

Today, the term ‘pipe dream’ has become a familiar part of our everyday language, with many unaware of its surprising history. Whether you’re using it to describe winning the lottery or inventing a time machine, the phrase reminds us that while some ambitions may never leave the realm of fantasy, they still have the power to capture our imagination.

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