Say it like this
- Let's do some blue-sky thinking before we get practical.
- This is blue-sky, so don't worry about budget yet.
- Great blue-sky idea, now how would we test it?
Use it at work
Opening a workshop
- Let's start with blue-sky ideas.
- No constraints for now.
Returning to reality
- Great ideas, now which can we test?
- Let's pick one for this quarter.
Plain alternative
- What if we had no limits?
- Let's brainstorm freely first.
Don't say this
It is about ideas, not mood.
Don't mix it up
| Term | What it is | Who writes or uses it | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| blue-sky thinking | ideas with no limits | UK, workshops | early brainstorming |
| think outside the box | creative, unusual ideas | everyone | problem-solving |
| moonshot | a hugely ambitious goal | tech | planning |
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. A facilitator wants ideas without worrying about budget. What do they say?
2. This is _______ thinking, so ignore the budget for now.
3. Which sentence uses 'blue-sky thinking' correctly?
4. Rewrite in plain English: 'Let's do some blue-sky thinking about the product.'
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 3
"Let's do some blue-sky thinking before we get practical."
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More about blue-sky thinking
Real examples(3)
- opening a workshop
"For the first 20 minutes, blue-sky thinking only: no constraints, no budget."
- in a product offsite
"Blue-sky question: what would onboarding look like if it took zero clicks?"
- bringing it back to reality
"Love the blue-sky ideas. Let's pick one we could test this quarter."
More mistakes(2)
Handle with care. Some people roll their eyes at "blue-sky thinking". Plain words work just as well.
- ✕Let's do blue sky thinking on the bug fix.✓Let's brainstorm options for the bug fix.
It is for open, big-picture ideas, not small tasks.
- ✕Blue-skying ideas✓doing some blue-sky thinking
The verb form is rare and sounds odd.
Other forms(2)
- blue-sky ideas adjective
"We had some blue-sky ideas."
- blue-sky thinking noun phrase
"This session is for blue-sky thinking."
Often used with(3)
- blue-sky thinking · unlimited creative ideas
- blue-sky idea · an ambitious, maybe unrealistic idea
- blue-sky session · a no-limits workshop
Similar words(3)
- brainstorming · everyday word
- thinking outside the box · creative thinking
- no-limits ideation · design-team jargon
Opposites(3)
- practical thinking
- being realistic
- execution
Questions(4)
- What does blue-sky thinking mean?
- Creative thinking without limits, ignoring practical problems for now.
- Is blue-sky thinking British?
- It is more common in UK English, but is understood in the US too.
- Is blue-sky thinking a buzzword?
- Yes, it is often mentioned in lists of annoying corporate jargon.
- What can I say instead?
- "Brainstorming without limits" or "What if we had no constraints?"
