IdiomNature
English
Englishpromise the moon
Meaning: To promise something impossible to deliver.
Example: “Every candidate promises the moon, and then the potholes stay.”
Origin: The moon as the symbol of the unreachable; "to cry for the moon," wanting the impossible, is older. The form with "promise" is common from the 20th century.
Equivalents in other languages
French: Décrocher la lune Literally: To unhook the moon- French: Promettre monts et merveilles Literally: To promise mountains and marvels
More English idioms
- thick and fast Rapidly and in large numbers.
- an old hand Someone with long experience at something.
- one thing led to another A series of events happened, each causing the next, often with a hint that something emba…
- Ariadne's thread Something that guides one through a complicated problem.
- sweet-talk To persuade someone with flattery.
- get on the wrong side of To make someone angry or hostile toward you.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- A great ship needs deep waters. Significant ambitions require sufficient resources and circumstances to achieve their ful…
- Green wood makes a hot fire. Unseasoned effort burns intensely but wastefully, consuming energy without producing last…
- A green wound is soon healed. Fresh injuries recover quickly; delay in treatment makes wounds harder to mend.
Keep exploring