To Build Castles in the Air – हवाई किले बनाना

The idiom “to build castles in the air” refers to creating unrealistic or impractical plans or dreams. It signifies making plans that are unachievable or not grounded in reality. Just as a castle in the air is impossible to build, so are these grand ideas that lack practical substance.

✔ Meaning:

• “To build castles in the air” means to dream or plan something grand that is not possible or impractical. These plans often involve ideas that are far from reality and may not be feasible due to their exaggerated nature or lack of practicality.
• This idiom highlights the futility of certain ambitions that are unrealistic or unreachable, suggesting that such dreams are as fragile as castles made in the air.

✔ Used When:

• When someone is planning something that is clearly impossible or unrealistic.
• **To describe someone who is dreaming big without considering the practical aspects or limitations.
• To criticize ideas or plans that seem impractical or overly ambitious without being based on logic or reason.

✔ Implied Message:
The idiom serves as a reminder that while dreams are important, they must be rooted in realistic goals and achievable plans. It implies that some aspirations are fanciful and may never come to fruition unless there is a practical approach.

Hindi Equivalent:
“हवाई किले बनाना” (अर्थ: बेकार, अव्यावहारिक, या असंभव योजनाएँ बनाना)

🧠 Detailed Explanation
The idiom “to build castles in the air” refers to imagining or creating plans that are so grand and unattainable, they can never be realized. It brings to mind the idea of building a structure that exists in mid-air, with no foundation or support—something that simply cannot be achieved in the real world.

This idiom is often used to describe someone who dreams excessively without considering the practical realities or limitations. These individuals may focus more on the fantasies than on the hard work required to achieve their goals.

Example Sentences:
English: “He keeps talking about becoming a billionaire overnight. It’s just building castles in the air.”
Hindi: “वह हर समय रातों-रात अरबपति बनने की बात करता है। यह बस हवाई किले बनाना है।”

English: “You can’t keep building castles in the air about getting a promotion without working for it.”
Hindi: “तुम बिना मेहनत किए प्रमोशन पाने के बारे में हवाई किले नहीं बना सकते।”

Key Takeaways:

• “To build castles in the air” refers to unrealistic or impractical dreams or plans that have no basis in reality.
• The idiom suggests that ambitions need to be rooted in reality and practicality.
• It is a cautionary phrase that warns against dreaming too big without considering the practical limitations of life.

✔ Origin of the Idiom:
The idiom’s origin comes from the idea of building a castle in the air, something that is impossible and cannot stand the test of reality. The phrase highlights how unrealistic plans, much like a castle suspended in mid-air, lack the necessary foundation or structure to support them.

✔ Real-World Examples:

In Personal Life:
English: “She spends too much time building castles in the air, dreaming about becoming a movie star, but she has no plan or effort to pursue it.”
Hindi: “वह बहुत समय हवाई किले बनाती रहती है, फिल्म स्टार बनने का सपना देखती है, लेकिन उसे इसे पाने के लिए कोई योजना या मेहनत नहीं है।”

In Professional Contexts:
English: “While having big goals is important, make sure you don’t just build castles in the air without a practical strategy.”
Hindi: “जबकि बड़े लक्ष्य रखना महत्वपूर्ण है, यह सुनिश्चित करें कि आप केवल हवाई किले नहीं बना रहे बिना किसी व्यावहारिक रणनीति के।”

When to Use the Idiom:

• When describing a person who is dreaming big but lacks the realistic approach or practical steps to achieve those dreams.
• To criticize someone who is not grounding their ambitions in reality and is chasing goals that are impossible or unreachable.
• When plans are made without considering the limitations, feasibility, or reality of the situation.

Reflection Questions:

• Have you ever been guilty of building castles in the air? What happened when those dreams didn’t come true?
• How do you balance ambition with realism in your goals?
• How can one avoid getting caught up in unrealistic dreams while still dreaming big?

🔁 Similar Expressions

English Idiom	Hindi Meaning
Chasing rainbows	अवास्तविक लक्ष्य के पीछे दौड़ना
Pie in the sky	अवास्तविक सपना
Dreaming with eyes closed	आंखें बंद करके सपना देखना