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  2. The phrase ‘pipe dream’ is an allusion to the dreams experienced by smokers of opium pipes. Opiates were widely used by the English literati in the 18th and 19th centuries.

  3. Jul 9, 2011 · Today I found out the origin of the phrase “pipe dream”, meaning “a fantastic hope or plan that is generally regarded as being nearly impossible to achieve.”. This phrase first popped up in the 19th century, with the earliest known documented case coming from Chicago, Illinois; specifically, coming from the December of 1890 issue of the ...

  4. Jun 17, 2017 · The term pipe dream denotes an unattainable or fanciful hope or scheme. Of American-English origin, it originally referred to the kind of visions experienced when smoking an opium pipe. This is clear from an early instance of pipe dream in an article about Rex Felix, the carnival king at the Mardi-Gras festival, published in the San Francisco ...

  5. The exact origin of the phrase “pipe dream” is unclear, but it likely dates back to the early 19th century. Some sources suggest that it may have originated in reference to opium dreams – a popular pastime among writers and artists at the time.

  6. A pipe dream is an unattainable hope or fantasy and is first cited in America from the late 19th century. The allusion is to the delusions or euphoria induced by smoking an opium pipe.

  7. Where does the verb pipe-dream come from? Earliest known use. 1910s. The earliest known use of the verb pipe-dream is in the 1910s. OED's earliest evidence for pipe-dream is from 1910, in Daily Press (Sheboygan, Wisconsin). It is also recorded as a noun from the 1890s. pipe-dream is formed within English, by conversion. Etymons: pipe dream n.

  8. Sep 30, 2023 · Where Does “Pipe Dream” Come From? The term originates from the 19th century. People who smoked opium pipes would often experience vivid, unrealistic dreams as a side effect.

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