chase rainbows
verb1
Idiomatic To pursue unrealistic or fanciful goals.
- "I'm sorry to spoil your daydreams and stop you chasing rainbows, and all that, but aren't you forgetting that the shop belongs to me?"1921, P. G. Wodehouse, chapter 16, in Indiscretions of Archie:
- The message of the campaign brochure was slick and soothing: "Bentsen. He dreams dreams. But he doesn't chase rainbows."1975 March 3, “Democrats: Five and Still Counting”, in Time, retrieved 26 Jun 2014:
1 more example
- But Johnson says he knows the score and intends to approach the challenges ahead with a strong sense of realism. "I don't want to chase rainbows," he said.2013 January 23, Chris Hewett, “Get ready for the greatest rugby show in the northern hemisphere”, in Independent, UK, retrieved 26 Jun 2014:
- Related terms
- dream the impossible dream, end of the rainbow, flight of fancy