ivory tower

Definitions

A sheltered, overly-academic existence or perspective, implying a disconnection or lack of awareness of reality or practical considerations.

idiomatic

Equivalents

Examples

“Such a proposal looks fine from an ivory tower, but it could never work⟳ in real life.”

“Hamilton College is an ivory tower with an open⟳ bar, and so I - who work⟳ and play⟳ equally hard - have⟳ come⟳ to love⟳ this place⟳, and have⟳ been dead-set against leaving it.”

“Since the launch⟳ early last⟳ year of […] two Silicon Valley start-ups offering free education through MOOCs, massive open⟳ online courses, the ivory towers of academia have⟳ been shaken to their foundations. University brands built in some cases over centuries have⟳ been forced to contemplate the possibility that information technology will rapidly make⟳ their existing business model⟳ obsolete.”

CEFR level