##  [idioms: blue-sky](/writing-tips-plus/idioms-blue-sky)

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The meaning of the adjective *blue-sky* depends on the context in which it is used.

In the area of environmental protection, *blue-sky* is used to describe projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and generally cleaning up the environment.

- A number of blue-sky technologies offer hope for large-scale reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

Blue-sky also describes laws regulating investments.

- *Blue-sky* laws were designed to protect investors from fraudulent securities with “no more basis than so many feet of ’blue sky.’”[Footnote 1](#fn1)

In science, *blue-sky* refers to basic research (which is exploratory, experimental and theoretical) as opposed to applied research (which has a specific, practical goal).

- Blue-sky research has led to many valuable scientific breakthroughs.

In business and management jargon, the adjective *blue-sky* was originally used for impractical ideas, but it now refers to thinking that is visionary and creative.

- The consultant’s blue-sky thinking pointed us toward a new path for the future.

*Blue-sky* is also a verb meaning either to have unrealistic, impractical ideas or to think creatively. In the second sense, *blue-skying it* can be used as a synonym for *thinking outside the box*.

- We were asked to blue-sky it to come up with some innovative ideas.

*Blue-skying* is also used as a synonym for brainstorming. Of course, the idea of brainstorming is to throw out ideas as they come to us, in the hope of coming up with something creative and innovative. At the same time, many of the ideas produced by brainstorming will be impractical, so there’s a connection here with both of the previously cited meanings.

## Footnote

Footnote 1 United States Supreme Court decision *Hall v. Geiger-Jones Co.*, 242 U.S. 539, 37 S. Ct. 217, 61 L. Ed. 480

[Return to footnote 1 referrer](#fn1-rf)

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