chase-rainbows
/ˈtʃeɪs ˌreɪn.bəʊz/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To chase-rainbows means to keep trying for something beautiful, exciting, or impossible that you are unlikely to get. It is often used for dreams that sound nice but are not practical.
- Stop chasing rainbows and make a real plan.
- He chased rainbows instead of saving money.
- They warned her not to chase rainbows.
Adinary Nuance
Chase-rainbows is stronger and more critical than hope or dream. It suggests the goal is not just hard, but probably impossible or impractical. Writers use it when they want to warn someone about unrealistic plans. It is less neutral than aim for or aspire to.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- đuổi theo mơ mộng
- Spanish
- perseguir sueños imposibles
- Chinese
- 追逐幻梦
- Japanese
- 手の届かない夢を追う
- Korean
- 헛된 꿈을 좇다
Etymology
This phrase comes from the idea that rainbows cannot be caught. It has been used in English for a long time as a picture of unrealistic hopes.
Common phrases
chasing rainbowsa rainbow-chaserstop chasing rainbows
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is chase-rainbows formal or informal?
- It is informal and often used in advice or criticism.
- Is chase-rainbows the same as dream?
- No. Dream is neutral, but chase-rainbows suggests an unrealistic dream.
- How do I use chase-rainbows in a sentence?
- Use it for a person who wants something unlikely or impossible to get.