Tell me more ×
English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote -1 down vote favorite

Recently I was received mail and found there the blue sky thinking phrase.

Quick googling does not bring any appropriate results.

What does the blue sky thinking mean?

share|improve this question
5  
-1 because you haven't provided enough information about the context the phrase was used in. Even if it was used in its expected context, as Hackworth pointed out, the answer from Wiktionary is the top answer in Google. If the wiktionary answer isn't the right one, give us more information about how the phrase was used in your email. – Andy F Nov 23 '11 at 10:31

closed as not a real question by Matt Эллен, kiamlaluno, Marthaª, simchona♦, Jasper Loy Nov 23 '11 at 16:26

It's difficult to tell what is being asked here. This question is ambiguous, vague, incomplete, overly broad, or rhetorical and cannot be reasonably answered in its current form. For help clarifying this question so that it can be reopened, see the FAQ.

2 Answers

up vote 6 down vote accepted

Blue sky thinking is business jargon for a sort of brainstorming or analysis that is uninhibited by the cruft and complexity of tedious and confusing reality. It is supposed to be optimistic, non-judgmental and intended to generate ideas that while not necessarily realistic might help define ideal goals or higher standards.

It's a ghastly cliche whose meaning is opaque.

share|improve this answer
I suppose that it is. – hazzik Nov 23 '11 at 13:56
+1 for It's a ghastly cliche whose meaning is opaque – FrustratedWithFormsDesigner Nov 23 '11 at 15:27
up vote 4 down vote

This is the google top link for "blue sky thinking", with or without quotes.

  1. thinking that is not grounded or in touch in the realities of the present.

What's not appropriate about this result?

share|improve this answer
Because it does not fit in context of whole phrase. Unfortunatelly I cannot provide whole phrase because of NDA. – hazzik Nov 23 '11 at 10:35
1  
@hazzik: then I find it difficult to see how we can help you. – Matt Эллен Nov 23 '11 at 11:02
1  
@Hazzik, perhaps you could redact certain phrases? I can't imagine any other context in which blue sky thinking might be used where it wouldn't mean what the wiktionary link says it does. I suspect whoever used it is using it incorrectly, but without context we can't tell you what they actually mean! – Andy F Nov 23 '11 at 11:03

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.