Word or phrase for an idea that is good in theory but not practice

There are two things I’m thinking about. First, implementing ideas into policy on a large scale. An example could be the idea of communism, a big argument is that communism seems ideal on paper but not in practice.

Second, implementing ideas into a routine or protocol. An example of the former could be a conflict between time management and reality such as trying to tát designate a certain amount of time to tát complete a phối of tasks. Sometimes things take longer phàn nàn expected and all the planners and schedules in the world can’t fix that. An example of the latter would be employees being told to tát always wash their hands when they get dirty but if it is busy, sometimes it’s just not possible to tát tự that every time.

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I know these are a lot of different things and I don’t expect a word that encompasses all of them. Anything even remotely related would be appreciated.

asked Sep 27, 2020 at 21:51

IbbyIbby

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A contribution to tát the spectrum of meaning that you refer to tát is Pipe dream.

Pipe dream (noun): an idea or plan that is impossible or very unlikely to tát happen.

Example: Her plans are not realistic - they'll never be more phàn nàn a pipe dream.

[Cambridge English Dictionary]

That brings to tát mind pie in the sky, castles in the sky, fool’s paradise, or even a chimera.

Chimera: a hope or dream that is very unlikely ever to tát come true.

Example: Why tự people chase the chimera of fame?

[Cambridge English Dictionary]

answered Sep 27, 2020 at 22:41

AntonAnton

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Quixotic is the perfect word you're looking for

exceedingly idealistic; unrealistic and impractical. Often used in the context of 'visionary' matters that are unrealistic or unattainable-by-nature.

answered Aug 30, 2021 at 21:05

I find myself hesitating to tát suggest this word because the most applicable definition appears in Wiktionary which is not the most authoritative of online resources. However the word is, if you accept their second definition, perfect.

The word is impracticality which is defined in most dictionaries as being an abstract, uncountable noun but is definded in Wiktionary as:

impracticality (countable and uncountable, plural impracticalities)

The state or quality of being impractical

Something which is impractical.

The Oxford Learners Dictionary says that impracticality can be used as both a countable and an uncountable noun and says that its plural is impracticalities but does not offer examples of its use as a countable noun.

The Wiktionary entry suggests that it should be possible to tát say things like

"The proposal is attractive but is, unfortunately, an impracticality.

However I have only seen the plural used to tát express the fact that there are multiple ways in which something is impractical by saying things lượt thích.

Unfortunately the proposal suffers from many impracticalities

I offer 'impracticality' as a possibility but only if you accept the second Wiktionary definition.

answered Sep 28, 2020 at 0:35

BoldBenBoldBen

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Consider words in the direction of Unserviceable. Though it doesn't refer to tát the 'noun portion' of your question, it does directly relate to tát the context of policy.

answered Aug 30, 2021 at 21:48

New AlexandriaNew Alexandria

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Word or phrase for an idea that is good in theory but not practice.

The simplest is flawed

Said Zaven Khachaturian, a former director of Alzheimer's research at the National Institute on Aging: 'Every major pharmaceutical company put money into the amyloid idea, and they all failed because the idea was flawed.

American Heritage Dictionary

flaw 1. n.
Xem thêm: tiếng anh 10 unit 9

2. A defect or shortcoming in something intangible: The two leaders share the flaw of arrogance.

flaw 1 (flô) tr.v. flawed, flaw·ing, flaws

To cause a flaw in; make defective: an argument that was flawed by specious reasoning.

Merriam-Webster:

flawed adjective

Definition of flawed: having a defect or imperfection: a flawed diamond; a flawed plan

Synonyms [...] defective, faulty, imperfect.

answered Aug 30, 2021 at 21:40

GreybeardGreybeard

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Shortsighted - not taking likely future developments into account
Example: Environmentalists fear that this is a short-sighted approach to tát the problem of global warming.

Improvident - failing to tát provide for the future; lacking foresight or thrift
Example: The improvident worker saved no money.

Unsound - based on faulty ideas
Example: The thinking is muddled and fundamentally unsound.

answered Aug 30, 2021 at 22:19

RobRob

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Boondoggle:

A boondoggle is a project that is considered a waste of both time and money, yet is often continued due to tát extraneous policy or political motivations.

"A waste of both time and money" is the worst case, and the Wikipedia article goes on to tát mention some "successful boondoggles". Also, boondoggles are frequently associated with "graft", which isn't always to tát blame. In many situations, the people backing the idea had good intentions but not enough experience to tát properly estimate the costs. The idea may be a type of Anti-pattern:

An anti-pattern is a common response to tát a recurring problem that is usually ineffective and risks being highly counterproductive.

answered Oct 30, 2021 at 18:22

Good on paper

It implies that it is not good on reality, because some of the factors that should be taken in consideration while designing the idea were not and were not obvious.

There are ideas that are bad on paper and on reality - lượt thích selling people two dollars for one dollar - ideas that look good on paper and on reality - lượt thích allowing people to tát buy for two dollars a product which costs one dollar to tát be made - and there are ideas which are good on paper but bad on reality; most of startup stories of failure are based on this.

Also, one could use the opposite expression “bad on paper”, to tát describe the apparent notion that a business model is unlikely to tát work, even when reality proved it did - lượt thích with airBnB and the fear that there wouldn’t be people willing to tát rent their houses or the house of others.

answered May 27, 2022 at 8:30

rabbit hole:

...in which the pursuit of something (such as an answer or solution) leads to tát other questions, problems, or pursuits

quagmire:

a difficult, precarious, or entrapping position

answered Oct 30, 2021 at 19:41

Since the OP has said that ... Athing even remotely related would be appreciated., I suggest

Rube Goldberg

Ingeniously or unnecessarily complicated in design or construction.

Rather phàn nàn going about things in a straightforward manner, she devises stratagems, the complexities of which are analogous to tát the workings of a Rube Goldberg project.

[Lexico]

answered Oct 30, 2021 at 21:01