Etymology

fly too close to the sun

Today it means: To become overly ambitious or greedy; to overreach oneself; to reach for something unattainable or unachievable. Full definition →

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The story

In reference to the Greek myth of Icarus, who fell into the sea and drowned after flying too close to the sun on wings made of wax and feathers, despite having been warned by his father, Daedalus, who gave him the wings.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.