ivory tower

Etymology
, based on a biblical phrase, coined by to compare the poet  (more isolated) with  (more socially engaged).

First attested in English in a translation of  by French philosopher (1911). The term was popularized in  (1917) by, though used in different sense (millionaires, not professors).

Noun

 * 1)  A sheltered, overly-academic existence or perspective, implying a disconnection or lack of awareness of reality or practical considerations.

Translations

 * Chinese:
 * Mandarin:
 * Czech: slonovinová věž
 * Danish: elfenbenstårn
 * Dutch: ivoren toren
 * Esperanto: eburturo
 * Finnish:
 * French:
 * German:
 * Hungarian:
 * Icelandic: fílabeinsturn
 * Ido: ivora turmo
 * Indonesian:
 * Interlingua: turre eboree
 * Italian: torre d'avorio, torre eburnea
 * Japanese: 象牙の塔
 * Korean: 상아탑
 * Latin: turris eburnea
 * Malay: menara gading
 * Norwegian:
 * Bokmål: elfenbenstårn, elfenbeinstårn
 * Nynorsk: elfenbeinstårn
 * Polish: wieża z kości słoniowej
 * Portuguese: torre de marfim
 * Russian:
 * Slovene: slonokoščeni stolp
 * Spanish: torre de marfil
 * Swedish:
 * Thai:
 * Turkish: fildişi kule
 * Ukrainian: ве́жа із слоно́вої кі́стки, вежа зі слонової кістки
 * Vietnamese:

Adjective

 * 1) Separated from reality and practical matters; overly academic.