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Answered 2013-03-01 15:14:27
"Pie in the Sky " means a reward that comes after death. It refers to the Church's promise of an eternal, catered party in Heaven, but only if we submit quietly to the malnourishment it allows on Earth. The phrase was coined by Joe Hill in 1902, in his song The Preacher and the Slave, a parody of the Salvation Army hymn In the Sweet Bye and Bye. The chorus goes:
You will eat, bye and bye/ In that glorious land above the sky;/ Work and pray, live on hay/You'll get pie in the sky when you die.
The phrase wasn't taken up until the Second World War, when it began to be used figuratively to refer to any prospect of future happiness which was unlikely ever to be realized. For example, this report from the California newspaper The Fresno Bee, November 1939:
"The business world is fearful that Roosevelt's obsession with war problems will mean a continued neglect of questions which still restrict trade and profits. They are highly skeptical of Washington's promise that they will 'eat pie in the sky' solely from war orders, which they decry publicly.
Some people confuse this phrase with the idiom "building castles in the air ( or in Spain)", referring to unrealistic plans or hopes.
Pie in the sky is a pipe dream - a very unrealistic wish, dream or desire.
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What does the saying pie in the sky mean?
it is an idiom.......1. Fig. a future reward after death, considered as a replacement for a reward not received on earth. Don't hold out for pie in the sky
What is the oigin of the idiom pie high in the sky?
It's "pie in the sky," and it originated in 1911 in a poem by Joe Hill. The poem told how preachers promised their followers that everything would be grand once they died and went to heaven, that they would have everything they wanted, including pie, "up in the sky" or in heaven.
What does the idiom reach for the sky mean?
It's not an idiom because you can figure out what it means by defining the terms. Someone is ordering you to raise your hands, as if you were trying to reach up to touch the sky.
What does the idiom his finger on every pie mean?
Nothing. It's "finger in every pie," and it means he is involved in many different projects or things.
What does the idiom with his tail flying in the sky mean?
This isn't an idiom - it's talking about some animal with their tail held high, flying behind them.
What is an example of Pie in the sky?
It's pie in the sky that pigs can fly!
What does the idiom eat humble pies mean?
It's PIE, not pies. "Eating humble pie" is a way of saying you were humbled -- you were forced to "eat your words" or correct yourself.
What is the idiom meaning of nice as a pie?
It is not an idiom. When you see "as ___ as ___" you are dealing with a simile, and those are just comparisons between two things. "As nice as pie" would be very nice, because pie is a nice, tasty dessert.
What is some pie that sogged in idiom?
This isn't an idiom. Soggy means damp and moist, no longer crispy. This sounds like a dialect speech, talking about a pie that got soggy.
Is merciless sky a metaphor?
No, It Is Actually An Idiom.
What is the origin of the idiom- finger in every pie?
The origin of the idiom finger in every pie is unknown. The saying means being involved in a lot of things or knowing about a lot of things.
Is the sky is falling down an idiom?
The phrase "The sky is falling" has passed into the English language as a common idiom indicating a hysterical or mistaken belief that disaster is imminent.
What does the idiom have a finger in every pipe mean?
Nothing. However, to have a finger in every pie means that you have a lot of varied interests and business contacts.
What is the picture of idiom many fingers in pie?
WikiAnswers is not a picture site.
What does the idiom sky high mean?
"Sky high" just means very high. You usually hear this as "blown sky high," which would mean either (literally) something exploded and was thrown high in the air, or (figuratively) that someone's plans were thoroughly destroyed.
What actors and actresses appeared in A Pie in the Sky - 1965?
The cast of A Pie in the Sky - 1965 includes: Bob McFadden
What is up the sky or pie?
The Sky Is Up as Far as i Know the Pie can't be put up or it will fall The sky has a Heavy Package If you Throw Some thing It Will Come Back down . The Sky is More inportent in Life I Don't Care if Pie is Yummy To eat .. So there your Anwser is Sky
What is the meaning of the idiom apple pie order?
In perfect order or condition or in tidy condition for example: everything was apple pie order
What are the ratings and certificates for Pie in the Sky - 1994 Game Pie 3-2?
Pie in the Sky - 1994 Game Pie 3-2 is rated/received certificates of: UK:PG (video rating) (2011)
What are the release dates for A Pie in the Sky - 1965 TV?
A Pie in the Sky - 1965 TV was released on: USA: 6 December 1965
Example sentence of the idiom blow out of the water?
Wow Grandma, your apple pie is so good it blows Mom's apple pie out of the water!
What does the metaphor idiom or saying 'breathe the sky'-mean as from chandra prasad's new book 'breathe the sky-a novel inspired by Amelia Earhart'?
It means to be alive; to live.
What is the meaning of the idiom 'drop out of the sky'?
Something that is an absolute surprise.
If pie is in the sky where is cake?
A distant meadow
What does pie in the sky mean?
If something is just pie in the sky then the chances of the thing actually ever actually materialising or happening are really really narrow and the speaker is probably showing off to make an impression on the listener.A promise of heaven whilst suffering on earth
