airy-fairy

(-ferē)

adjective

    1. fairylike; graceful; delicate
    2. affected, mannered, etc.
  1. not realistic; impractical; visionary

See airy-fairy in American Heritage Dictionary 4

also airy fairy

noun pl. air·y-fair·ies also air·y fair·ies
One that is insubstantial or impractical: “They'd wanted him for Ambassador in Paris but he'd turned it down; he'd no patience with the airy-fairies” (John le Carré).
adjective
Insubstantial or impractical: “You are talking about some airy fairy concept which will never come in my lifetime” (Margaret Thatcher).

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