up in the clouds

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phraseinformal

   Thinking about your own ideas or daydreams instead of paying attention to what is happening around you.

   Grammar: Used after be or seem, or after verbs like daydream: She was up in the clouds.

   Patterns

   • be up in the clouds
   • seem up in the clouds

   During the meeting, he was up in the clouds and missed the main point.

   She seems up in the clouds lately, always staring out of the window.

   Stop being up in the clouds and listen to the instructions.

2. 2phrasefixed phraseinformal

   Having ideas that are not practical or are far from real life.

   Grammar: Often used to describe plans or people who are not realistic.

   Patterns

   • be up in the clouds
   • plans up in the clouds

   His plans for the business are up in the clouds; he has no idea about costs.

   You can't run a farm if your head is up in the clouds all day.

Common combinations

head in the clouds

She always has her head in the clouds during class.

be up in the clouds

He was up in the clouds and forgot to reply.

seem up in the clouds

You seem up in the clouds today.

come down from the clouds

It's time to come down from the clouds and find a job.

Synonyms and how they differ

daydreaming

Focuses on the activity of imagining; up in the clouds describes the person's state and is often a gentle criticism.

distracted

Means unable to concentrate because of something else; up in the clouds suggests the distraction is your own imagination.

unrealistic

Describes plans or ideas that are not practical; up in the clouds can describe a person or their ideas and sounds more informal.

Opposites

Commonly confused: up in the clouds or head in the clouds?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “up in the clouds”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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