utopia
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pipe dream
An idea or plan that is considered completely unrealistic and impossible to carry out.
Sein Vorschlag, das Problem in einer Woche zu lösen, ist reine Utopie.
His proposal to solve the problem in one week is a pure pipe dream.
utopia
The design of an ideal social order or a perfect place that does not exist in reality. Often used as a literary or philosophical concept.
Thomas Morus' Buch „Utopia“ beschreibt eine solche Utopie auf einer fernen Insel.
Thomas More's book 'Utopia' describes such a utopia on a distant island.
The related adjective is 'utopisch' (utopian). It describes an idea or plan as unrealistic or as belonging to a utopia.
Seine Pläne für die Zukunft klingen ziemlich utopisch.
His plans for the future sound pretty utopian.
When 'Utopie' (utopia) is used to dismiss an idea as unrealistic, it often appears with adjectives like 'rein' (pure) or 'bloß' (mere). Phrases like 'Das ist reine Utopie' (That is pure utopia / a pure pipe dream) are very common.
Ein Leben ohne Arbeit ist für die meisten Menschen eine reine Utopie.
A life without work is a pure pipe dream for most people.
The meaning of an ideal social order is found mainly in philosophical, literary, or political texts. Often, the type of utopia is described more precisely, e.g. 'eine soziale Utopie' (a social utopia) or 'eine technische Utopie' (a technological utopia).
In seinem Roman entwirft der Autor die Utopie einer perfekten Welt.
In his novel, the author designs the utopia of a perfect world.
ideal
Ideal and Utopie can both refer to a perfect state that exists only in the imagination. Ideal refers to the desired standard, while a Utopie means a fully developed design for a perfect society or place that does not exist in reality. Use Utopie when the complete design is the focus.
Die Utopie einer Gesellschaft mit gleichen Chancen beschreibt ein ganzes neues Zusammenleben.
The utopia of a society with equal opportunities describes an entirely new way of living together.
Eine ideale Gesellschaft würde allen Menschen gleiche Chancen geben.
An ideal society would give everyone equal opportunities.
