single word requests - Idiom for someone "not from this world"?


Are there idioms (or single words) in English for people who behave like they have come from another world where everything is perfect and know nothing about the reality? They usually come up with ideas that can never work, but look attractive if you don't analyze them properly. They know nothing about science, and it seems they don't know that people lie, cheat and get violent.
PS in Russian we usually use the word "эльфы" (elves) for such people, and they are supposedly visiting our world from the "world of elves". It's usually considered pejorative.



Answer



space cadet: someone with little grasp of reality. Also spacey or spaced-out.


E.T. or Extraterrestrial -- commonly used to refer to those from outer space. Commonly used to refer to actual residents of other worlds, but also applied to those that act like they are from another planet.


Eggheads: intellectuals that have little in the way of social skills or awareness. Also absent minded though this is a weaker term.


Airhead: Perhaps not stupid (though that may be implied), but lacking in reasoning skills and common sense.


Living in a dream world. Generally clueless re: reality.


Likely any similar term will be pejorative.


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