Select the most appropriate meaning of the given idiom.
A pipe dream
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The most appropriate meaning of the idiom "pipe dream" is an illusory plan.
The other options are incorrect.
- An illusory plan is a plan that is unlikely to happen.
- A secret is something that is kept hidden from others.
- A realistic dream is a dream that is possible to achieve.
- A clever strategy is a plan that is likely to succeed.
The idiom "pipe dream" comes from the idea of a pipe being used to smoke tobacco, which is a habit that is often associated with unrealistic thinking. In the same way, a pipe dream is a plan that is unlikely to happen, or a dream that is not based in reality. For example, you might say that winning the lottery is a pipe dream.