impossible wishes

USAGE SUMMARY

"impossible wishes" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe desires or hopes that cannot be fulfilled. Example: "She often daydreamed about impossible wishes that could never come true." Alternative expressions include "unattainable dreams," "futile hopes," and "unrealistic desires."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Books

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

But having scores of impossible wishes on your list will only camouflage those tasks that you actually need to do.

The Guardian

The complaints, the differences, impossible wishes for how things might be instead, they just hadn't yet been spoken aloud. .

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The impossible wish, to forget.

The New Yorker

An impossible wish, but at least it wasn't raining.

The New York Times

What do you say in response to such a wistful, straightforward, impossible wish?

Independent

It's an impossible wish, of course; the past isn't fixable.

The New Yorker

"One World Trade Center and every other structure on the site hold our impossible wish: to have back everyone who was lost on Sept. 11," Judith Dupré wrote in "One World Trade Center: Biography of the Building".

The New York Times

She longed to take photographs of the procedure, write it up and send it to Experimental Dentistry, an impossible wish as the only mail that came to Hell consisted of bills for the inhabitants and no mail at all went out.

The Guardian - Books

In this episode, reminiscent of her controversial House of Splendid Isolation, O'Brien gives us a brief, ambiguous alliance between the infamous Shane, who, though now free, will "always be a wanted man", and Mona, who taught him painting in prison and now has the simple, impossible wish to share with Shane a peaceful country lunch.

The Guardian - Books

I have an impossible wish this Mother's Day.

Huffington Post

That's an impossible wish for many reasons, but something has to shift in the clinical way we currently talk about this problem.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "impossible wishes", ensure the context clearly conveys the unattainable nature of the desires. The phrase is most effective when emphasizing the contrast between aspiration and reality.

Common error

Avoid using "impossible wishes" when referring to difficult, but potentially achievable goals. Reserve the phrase for desires that are fundamentally out of reach.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "impossible wishes" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "impossible" modifies the noun "wishes". It describes desires or aspirations that are not capable of being realized. Ludwig indicates the expression is correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Books

25%

Opinion

25%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "impossible wishes" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe unattainable desires or aspirations. Ludwig identifies its usage as correct and provides examples from diverse sources, including news media and literature. While not overly frequent, the phrase is well-understood and suitable for various contexts. Alternatives include "unattainable desires" and "unrealistic aspirations". When employing this expression, it is essential to ensure the context accurately reflects the impossibility of the wish, distinguishing it from merely difficult goals.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unattainable desires

Focuses on the inability to obtain or fulfill the desires.

unrealistic aspirations

Emphasizes the lack of realism in the ambitions or goals.

futile hopes

Highlights the pointlessness of having such hopes.

hopeless dreams

Focuses on the lack of hope associated with the dreams.

impractical longings

Highlights the impracticality of the desires.

wishful thinking

Implies that the wishes are based on fantasy rather than reality.

pipe dreams

Suggests that the dreams are unrealistic and unlikely to materialize.

delusional expectations

Emphasizes the disconnect from reality in the expectations.

unachievable goals

Highlights the inability to achieve the stated goals.

empty fantasies

Focuses on the lack of substance or fulfillment in the fantasies.

FAQs

What are some synonyms for "impossible wishes"?

Alternatives to "impossible wishes" include "unattainable desires", "unrealistic aspirations", and "futile hopes".

How do I use "impossible wishes" in a sentence?

You can use "impossible wishes" to describe desires that are not likely to be fulfilled. For example, "She knew her dreams were just impossible wishes, but she couldn't help but dream anyway."

What is the difference between "impossible wishes" and "difficult goals"?

"Impossible wishes" refers to desires that are fundamentally unattainable, while "difficult goals" are challenging but potentially achievable. The key difference is the feasibility of realization.

Is it ever appropriate to pursue "impossible wishes"?

While "impossible wishes" may never be fully realized, the act of pursuing them can sometimes lead to unexpected discoveries or personal growth. However, it's important to balance aspiration with a realistic understanding of what's achievable.