flight of fancy

Idioms  

1. An unrealistic idea or fantastic notion, a pipe dream. For example, She engaged in flights of fancy, such as owning a million-dollar house. This idiom uses flight in the sense of “a soaring of the imagination,” a usage dating from the mid-1600s.

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Example Sentences

But as of now, that remains only a flight of fancy for Kirby.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 27, 2026

After reaching for the stars in his first show for Chanel, new chief designer Matthieu Blazy took a feathery flight of fancy for his debut Haute Couture collection inspired by birds and nature on Tuesday.

From Barron's • Jan. 27, 2026

This was nothing but a flight of fancy: The price of a Happy Meal in California ranges from $4 to $8 today, depending on its content and size.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 10, 2024

And if you really want a flight of fancy, you can envision Clark wearing the colors of the team that calls this arena home, the Seattle Storm.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 24, 2023

“Nothing. Just a brief flight of fancy, my mind sailing off past the phantom tollbooth. So, which lifeline would you like to use?”

From "Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library" by Chris Grabenstein