'flights of fancy.'

Posted by ESC on June 15, 2005

In Reply to: 'flights of fancy.' posted by Smokey Stover on June 15, 2005

: : I am trying to find out about the phrase 'flights of fancy.' So far I have been unsuccessful and was wondering if anyone can help! Anything to do with its history, origins and meanings. I have used it to head a narrative writing course which I have designed to teach children on the Internet and am sure they would appreciate any information as would I! Thank you.

: I know nothing about the origin and history of "flights of fancy" except that fancy is an old word sometimes meaning what we call imagination. Flight, of course, is a means of movement that gets us off the ground and permits us to travel in all sorts of directions. It contrasts with the earth-bound and slow. A flight of the imagination is a nimble look at possibilities that may exist only in one's mind, but might, in some cases, be translated into reality. Hard to define without becoming in some way circular. SS

I've been looking.