blue-sky thinking
1
6.4
- noun
- /bluː skaɪ ˈθɪŋkɪŋ/
- Jargon
- During the workshop, participants were encouraged to embrace blue-sky thinking and explore ideas without limitations.
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Watch on YouTubeSo, you know, part, you never know where blue sky thinking that's not aimed at any utilitarian advantage.
- So, you know, part, you never know where blue sky thinking that's not aimed at any utilitarian advantage.
Examples
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And you need to do some serious Blue-skies thinking.
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But the true blue sky thinking theorist has to watch out for this affliction and consciously work at keeping an open mind.
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Some blue-sky thinking had envisioned the possibility of using these to capture bits of comets or meteors one day.
Fiction book (2000) -
The team engaged in blue-sky thinking to brainstorm innovative solutions for the upcoming project.
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His blue-sky thinking led to a groundbreaking proposal that redefined the company's direction.
Synonyms
13
3.7
Thinking in new ways to make things or solve problems
1
5.3
A way to solve problems by looking at them from new angles
1
6.3
A way of thinking that comes up with many different ideas to solve a problem
1
6.6
Ability to think of new and creative ideas
To solve problems using new creative ideas
Antonyms
- Formal
1
8.1
A preference for usual ways of thinking or behaving, for example in art
How Creative
Surface Forms
Morphology
blue-sky + thinking
The phrase relies on a metaphorical extension of 'blue-sky' (evoking open, unobstructed sky) combined with 'thinking' to mean unconstrained, highly creative ideation. This relation is partially predictable from the parts but is figurative and somewhat jargon-like, so a B1 learner who knows the words may guess a related sense but not reliably infer the precise business/creative meaning without exposure.
Etymology
Blue-sky thinking comes from the picture of a wide, clear blue sky with no clouds or walls, so ideas can fly anywhere. That's why the phrase means 'creative ideas that are not held back by practical limits'.