somewhere over the rainbow
In an unknown, hypothetical, or very distant place.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He thinks his dream job is somewhere over the rainbow.”
“You keep waiting for a perfect life that exists somewhere over the rainbow instead of fixing your current problems.”
“The idealistic young artist spent his entire career chasing a vision of success that remained somewhere over the rainbow, forever just out of his reach.”
Popularized from the song Over the Rainbow by Judy Garland, written by Harold Arlen (music) and E. Y. Harburg (lyrics) for the film The Wizard of Oz
- 01
chase a rainbow
To pursue something illusory, impractical, or impossible.
- 02
chase rainbows
To pursue unrealistic or fanciful goals.
- 03
get one's butt somewhere
Go somewhere, especially quickly.
- 04
it's five o'clock somewhere
Used as an excuse for drinking alcoholic beverages outside of customary hours.
- 05
rainbow baby
A baby that is conceived after a miscarriage or other loss of a baby.
- 06
rainbows and unicorns
A wonderful (but often unrealistic) scenario.
- 07
somewhere along the line
At some point in a process or in a series of events; at some unspecified or unknown time; eventually.
- 08
sunshine and rainbows
Happy, positive things, sometimes with a connotation of unrealistic expectations.
Last updated August 10, 2026