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blue-sky

blue-sky

2 8.0
Very creative ideas that are not yet practical
  • adjective
  • /bluː skaɪ/
translation icon : teórico
  • Many authors discuss blue-sky research as crucial for advancing knowledge, even if it lacks immediate applications.

And watching the Arnold dock really reminded me of that sort of unbounded blue sky vision that everybody had.

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Examples

  • But the true blue sky thinking theorist has to watch out for this affliction and consciously work at keeping an open mind.

  • What's a a blue sky suggestion just for the campaign itself?

  • But I do give myself a moment of just blue sky and free flow.

  • In health care, I think we are often blue sky focused.

    Blog text (22)
  • In all cases, these re-process efforts are 'blue sky' ideas, not based on actual testing.

    Blog text (29)
  • A probe would require a Manhattan Project based on known physical principles, not a blue-sky research effort.

    Blog text (28)
  • If you pump up your team with lofty aspirations and blue-sky visions, they will quickly become demotivated when the hard fist of reality shatters those dreams.

    Blog text (2)
  • The scientists presented a series of blue-sky ideas at the conference, exploring possibilities far beyond current technology.

  • During the workshop, participants were encouraged to engage in blue-sky thinking to generate innovative concepts without worrying about practical constraints.

Antonyms

601 3.7

Made to earn money rather than for art

507 2.6

About how something works in real life rather than in ideas

How Practical

applied
9 4.0
practical
507 2.6
exploratory
31 5.2
blue-sky
2 8.0
theoretical
133 6.3

Surface Forms

blue-sky positive

Morphology

blue-sky = blue + sky (semi-transparent) = blue + sky

The components 'blue' and 'sky' are literal, but the idiomatic extension to 'theoretical, unconstrained ideas' is metaphorical and not fully predictable for learners.

Etymology

Blue-sky comes from the picture of a clear blue sky, wide and without clouds, so it feels open and full of 'possibilities'. That's why blue-sky ideas are big, creative thoughts or research about what might be possible rather than things meant for immediate practical use.