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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

the moon on a stick en · NOUN

Pronunciation

  • /ˈmuːn ɒn ə ˈstɪk/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • (Australia) audio
  • /ˈmun ɑn ə ˈstɪk/ (General-American)

Etymology

The term describes something that is impossible to obtain.

Meanings

  1. (excessive, idiomatic) All that one could desire, especially as an unreasonable demand; everything.
    • What more do I want—the moon on a stick of course. 2007, Pamela Cotterill, Sue Jackson, Gayle Letherby, Challenges and Negotiations for Women in Higher Education:
    • Once I saved twenty-five dollars and bought her a print gown for her birthday, and she was so pleased you'd have thought I'd given her the moon on a stick. 2002, Donald Clarke, Billie Holiday: Wishing on the Moon:
    • You promise partners the moon on a stick, so that you can snatch it back easily when you change your mind. 2006, Stella Hyde, Tonwen Jones, Snarling Tiger, Dirty Rat:
    • There is no point in asking for the moon on a stick, but we can produce cheap sticks through a sensible division of labour and sell them with effective market segmentation strategies. Leave the moon for dreamers. 2002, Martin Parker, Utopia and Organization:

Relateds

moon shot · promise the moon · heaven on a stick · ask for the moon

Translations (3)

pl gwiazdka z nieba (all that one could desire, especially as an unreasonable demand — see also everything) · ru луна́ с не́ба (all that one could desire, especially as an unreasonable demand — see also everything) · fi kuu taivaalta (all that one could desire, especially as an unreasonable demand — see also everything)