# blue-sky thinking

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/blue-sky-thinking
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A form of thinking that is not grounded or in touch with the realities of the present, and can thus benefit from creative imagination.

## Examples

- The team did some blue-sky thinking to find new ideas.
- In our meeting, we spent an hour on blue-sky thinking before we looked at costs.
- The architect encouraged blue-sky thinking at the early stage, knowing that practical constraints would inevitably narrow the vision later.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.