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Glite Dictionary
to chase rainbows

to chase rainbows

1 8.3
To try to achieve things that are very unlikely or impossible
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : perseguir quimeras
  • I mean, maybe it's time to stop chasing rainbows, buddy.

Examples

  • Always chasing rainbows.

    City Heat (1984)

  • Well, you can stay here chasing rainbows or I can show you a real pot of gold.

    Pot o' Gold (1941)

  • I got fed up with chasing rainbows and hung up my plates run.

    Funny Man (1994)

  • Smoking cigars, chasing rainbows...

    Custer of the West (1967)

  • I'm always chasing rainbows ♪ Waiting to find a little bluebird ♪ In vain ♪

    The Childhood of a Leader (2016)

  • Instead of chasing rainbows, focus on setting achievable goals for your future.

  • He realized that chasing rainbows would not lead to happiness and decided to pursue practical dreams instead.

  • Many people spend their lives chasing rainbows, hoping for something that may never come true.

Synonyms

to shoot for
vsto chase rainbows
  • Informal
30 3.9

To try to reach a big, difficult goal

involves aiming at goals that are unlikely or impossible rather than only difficult ones
to fight a losing battle
vsto chase rainbows
  • Informal
4 6.5

Try very hard to do something even though you will probably fail

includes aims that are impossible as well as merely unlikely
to reach for the stars
vsto chase rainbows
  • Informal
4 4.9

To try to achieve very big goals

prefers goals that are unrealistic or impossible instead of merely lofty ones
to reach for the sky
vsto chase rainbows
  • Informal
3 7.1

To try to do very big or difficult things to get what you want

targets things seen as impossible or hopeless rather than just ambitious aims
to shoot for the stars
vsto chase rainbows
  • Informal
2 4.7

Try to reach a very high and difficult goal

targets goals seen as unrealistic or impossible rather than merely high
to go to the ends of the earth
vsto chase rainbows
1 5.9

To try very hard and do anything to achieve something

aims at goals that are unrealistic or impossible rather than only effortful attempts
to hunt a white whale
vsto chase rainbows
  • Informal
9.3

To try to reach a very difficult or impossible goal for a long time

focuses on aiming at goals that are unlikely or impossible to reach

Antonyms

to focus
∞ 2.6

To direct attention or thoughts toward something specific

realistic
283 3.7

Having sensible ideas about what can be achieved

How Realistic

to daydream
39 2.3
to chase rainbows
  • Informal
1 8.3
to plan
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

chase rainbows infinitive
chased rainbows past
chased rainbows past participle
chasing rainbows present participle
chases rainbows third person singular

Morphology

chase + rainbow

The meaning is directly derived from combining 'chase' (to pursue) with 'rainbow' (a visually attractive but physically unattainable object), so a learner who knows both words can infer that it means pursuing unrealistic or impossible goals. The metaphor is simple and cross-linguistically familiar, so a B1 learner is likely to understand it without prior exposure.

Etymology

Chase rainbows comes from the picture of someone trying to chase bright rainbows and reach their end, a place you can never get to. So, it means 'to try to get things that are very unlikely or impossible'.