Pie In The Sky - Idiom of the Day for IELTS Speaking & Writing

Kasturika Samanta

4 min read

Updated On Sep 03, 2025

Want to learn a few go-to idioms for IELTS Speaking & Writing answers? Describe unrealistic ideas or hope with the idiom ‘Pie in the Sky’ and learn how to convey your ideas by looking at the tricks on when to use it and exercises to master it.

Pie In The Sky - Idiom of the Day for IELTS Speaking & Writing

What is the Meaning of the Word ‘Pie In The Sky’?
When to Use Pie in the Sky in IELTS Speaking & Writing Answers?
Exercise on Pie In the Sky for IELTS Speaking & Writing

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If you aim to get a band 8+, using idioms like ‘Pie In The Sky’ will add depth to your answer in the IELTS Speaking and Writing sections. Such idioms can help you to describe abstract concepts and articulate the meaning better in the exam. Therefore, with the knowledge to incorporate them effectively in sentences, you can start your preparation with this term to stand out in the IELTS Exam.

So, now let us learn what this really means and proceed to practice its proper usage.

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What is the Meaning of the Word ‘Pie In The Sky’?

To use vocabulary effectively for a higher IELTS Band Score, you must possess the knowledge about the meaning, synonyms, collocations, and the sentence structures in which you can use them. With diligence and practice, you will soon notice improvement in your answers, which will become sharper, richer, and more impactful. The table below suggests the important factors for the word ‘Pie in the Sky’.

Topic	Description
Pie in the Sky	Idiom
Definition	A joyous thought very unlikely to materialize.
Synonyms	Unrealistic hope, Illusion, Wishful thinking
Origin	History dates back to the early 19th century, roughly in 1906 when it was used by Joe Hill in his song “The Preacher and the Slave”. There are also references to the idiom being used later in the 19th century, in the Harvard Bulletins in Education in 1926 and in the Infantry Journal in 1927, and in the The Fortnightly magazine in 1953. In recent times, the Daily Telegraph used it in 2016.
Examples	For IELTS Speaking Your idea of building the dam without bribing the politician will be a pie in the sky. Your political promises are a pie in the sky. For IELTS Writing The boss’s plan of promoting the project will be a pie in the sky if he does not resolve the team’s internal conflicts. The new advancements in remote areas seem to be a pie in the sky since it takes more than the initial five-year completion proposal.

Want to learn IELTS Speaking IDIOMS for BAND 9? Let’s check out the video below!

When to Use Pie in the Sky in IELTS Speaking & Writing Answers?

Memorizing an IELTS Vocabulary word requires you to know when and how to use it appropriately. Note that using advanced vocabulary would add nuance and specificity to your answers and demonstrate a higher level of language skills. Below are the different scenarios in which you can utilize the term ‘Pie in the Sky’.

Scenario 1:

Friend 1: Tom’s younger son is minting money in his new business.
Friend 2: That’s good news! Tom always wanted to buy the pink bungalow near to his house. Now that his son is earning well, the bungalow will no longer be a pie in the sky for him.

Scenario 2:

Merchant: I want to expand my business.
Auditor: Glad about that!
Merchant: I want to purchase the vacant land at the end of this road.
Auditor: Oh! That costs a lot of money. Your expansion dreams will become a pie in the sky.

Scenario 3:

Friend 1: I want to study at Massachusetts university.
Friend 2: What are your scores?
Friend 1: Decent grades.
Friend 2: Decent grades? They want excellent grades. Massachusetts will only be a pie in the sky for you.

Grab the Vocabulary for IELTS (Essential words for popular topics in IELTS) and take a step towards your desired band score of 8+.

Exercise on Pie In the Sky for IELTS Speaking & Writing

Are you ready to construct a sentence using the idiom ‘Pie In The Sky’? Let’s create sentences that maximize the impact of the word. Keep your eyes on each sentence in the exercise as you proceed, since these will guide your placement of the word.

Match the Sentences to the Correct Expression

Expressions to Use:

Pie in the Sky
A Lone Wolf
Penny Pincher
On Cloud Nine
The Tip of the Iceberg

1 Winning the lottery may sound exciting, but with that as your only answer to finances, well, you know what that is.

2 After she got Band 8 on her IELTS, she was ____ smiling from ear to ear.

3 He always studies by himself and does not often join in group discussions. He is truly ________.

4 The company's fraud scandal is shocking, but the experts believe it is only _____ of a much bigger thing.

5 Don't expect him to do much anyway; he is a real ________ who tries to avoid spending whenever possible.

Answer to the Exercise on Pie In The Sky for IELTS Speaking & Writing

Let’s review all answers for the exercise. By doing so, you can spot the weaknesses that will allow you to do a targeted practice to strengthen your IELTS skills.

Pie in the Sky
On Cloud Nine
A Lone Wolf
The Tip of the Iceberg
Penny Pincher

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Try to include the idiom ‘Pie in the Sky’ in your answer to show the usage of an advanced vocabulary word. It is vital to keep practising and familiarizing yourself with different sentences to make yourself feel confident during the actual exam time. With practice, you will increase your vocabulary bank, which will help you to score a higher band of 8+.

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