ask for the moon

cry for the moon

If you say that someone is asking for the moon or is crying for the moon, you mean that they are asking for something that they cannot possibly have.

We're not asking for the moon, but we are asking for some stability so that we can continue the progress that has been made and not go backwards.

`What I'd like is for my grandson no longer to have that need.' `Then I'm afraid,' said Moira, `that you're crying for the moon.'

bay at the moon    

howl at the moon

If you say that someone is baying at the moon, you mean that they are wasting their time and energy trying to do something which is impossible or to get something which they cannot have. You can also say that they are howling at the moon.

Asking for improved childcare provision has so far proved as fruitful as baying at the moon.

The much-vaunted watchdog which was supposed to stop the worst excesses of private ownership appears to be reduced to howling vainly at the moon.