pie in the sky

Meanings

1. A fanciful notion; an unrealistic or ludicrous concept; the illusory promise of a desired outcome that is unlikely to happen.

1. Alternative form of pie-in-the-sky.

Etymology

The phrase is originally from the song “The Preacher and the Slave” (1911) by Swedish-American labor activist and songwriter Joe Hill (1879–1915), which he wrote as a parody of the Salvation Army hymn “In the Sweet By-and-By” (published 1868). The song criticizes the Salvation Army for focusing on people’s salvation rather than on their material needs: : You will eat, bye and bye, : In that glorious land above the sky; : Work and pray, live on hay, : You’ll get pie in the sky when you die.