Meanings
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:[1]
How to pronounce "pie in the sky":
AU
A fanciful notion; an unrealistic or ludicrous concept; the illusory promise of a desired outcome that is unlikely to happen.
Example Sentences
1
John is always talking about his pie in the sky dreams of becoming a millionaire overnight.
2
The politician's promises of free healthcare for all are nothing more than pie in the sky.
3
I don't trust those get-rich-quick schemes; they seem like pie in the sky.
4
The company's plan to double its revenue in just one year is just pie in the sky.
5
She's always daydreaming about traveling the world, but it's just pie in the sky.
