sandcastle

American  

[sand-kas-uhl, -kah-suhl] / ˈsændˌkæs əl, -ˌkɑ səl /

noun

1. a small castlelike structure made of wet sand, as by children at a beach.

2. a plan or idea with little substance.

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Etymology

Origin of sandcastle

First recorded in 1850–55; sand + castle

Example Sentences

They’re working hard to make each square inch explorable, creating, at the time of the interview, a sandcastle to be hidden in the restroom.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 29, 2025

TORRES: I equate it to building a sandcastle where you don’t really start out with a blueprint.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 5, 2024

There's laughter, sandcastle construction and everyone - whether they're a captain of industry or a truck driver - is enjoying the great embrace of the ocean.

From BBC • Jul. 6, 2023

But it also should have meant that the court rejected her case out of hand since it's built on a sandcastle of lies.

From Salon • Jul. 3, 2023

Bruno’s too-enthusiastic tail knocks a plastic pail over in the sand, and accidentally levels an entire sandcastle.

From "I Can Make This Promise" by Christine Day