promise the moon

promise the moon {v. phr.}

To promise something impossible.

A politician who promises the moon during a campaign loses the voters' respect.

I can't promise you the moon, but I'll do the best job I can.

Compare: ASK FOR THE MOON.

Categories:

Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms

To section: P

Subscribe to: American Idioms

✉

Our RSS-channels

Show All

See as well

ask for the moon

[ask for the moon] or [cry for the moon] {v. phr.} To want something that you cannot reach or have; try for the impossible. * /John asked his mother for […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

moon

[moon] See: [ASK FOR THE MOON] or [CRY FOR THE MOON], [DARK OF THE MOON], [FULL OF THE MOON], [ONCE IN A BLUE MOON], [PROMISE THE MOON]. A Dictionary of American Idioms

dark of the moon

[dark of the moon] {n. phr.}, {literary} A time when the moon is not shining or cannot be seen. * /It was the dark of the moon when the scouts […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

full of the moon

[full of the moon] {n. phr.}, {literary} The moon when it is seen as a full circle; the time of a full moon. * /The robbers waited for a dark […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

Recent updates

по-барабану

[по-барабану] {adv. phr.} {informal} {colloquial} {slang} {used by youth} [po-bara`banu] Not caring abt. smt. * […]

in order to

[in order to] or [so as to] {conj.} For the purpose of; to. - Used with an infinitive. * /In order to follow the buffalo, […]

nervous prostration

[nervous prostration] {n.} An illness of the mind that makes you feel very tired, worried, and bored, and that often causes […]

Yiddish curse

Leeches should drink him dry.