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Castle in the Air

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A splendid edifice, but one which has no existence. In fairy tales we often have these castles built at a word, and vanishing as soon, like that built for Aladdin by the Genius of the Lamp. These air-castles are called by the French Châteaux dʹ Espagne, because Spain has no châteaux. We also find the expression Châteaux en Asie for a similar reason. (See Chateaux.)

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Cast beyond the Moon
Cast in One’s Lot (To)
Cast into One’s Teeth (To)
Cast of the Eye (A)
Cast Pearls before Swine (To)
Casting Vote
Castagnette (Captain)
Castaly
Caste
Castle Builder (A)
Castle in the Air
Castle of Bungay (My)
Castle of Indolence
Castle Terabil (or “Terrible”)
Castor
Castor and Pollux
Castor’s Horse
Casuist
Casus Belli (Latin)
Cat
Cat-call