ENGLISH
REFERENCE

somewhere over the rainbow

idiom
Meaning

In an unknown, hypothetical, or very distant place.


Origin

disputed origin

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

Examples
SIMPLE

He thinks his dream job is somewhere over the rainbow.

CONTEXTUAL

You keep waiting for a perfect life that exists somewhere over the rainbow instead of fixing your current problems.

COMPLEX

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.

Anchors to
Related idioms5entries
  1. 01

    chase a rainbow

    To pursue something illusory, impractical, or impossible.

  2. 02

    get one's butt somewhere

    Go somewhere, especially quickly.

  3. 03

    it's five o'clock somewhere

    Used as an excuse for drinking alcoholic beverages outside of customary hours.

  4. 04

    rainbow baby

    A baby that is conceived after a miscarriage or other loss of a baby.

  5. 05

    somewhere along the line

    At some point in a process or in a series of events; at some unspecified or unknown time; eventually.

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