in an ideal world
ideally; if only it were possible.
In an ideal world we would respond to all customer enquiries within 24 hours, but we do not have enough staff.
A film is its own thing and in an ideal world I think a film should be discovered knowing nothing and nothing should be added to it and nothing should be subtracted from it. David Lynch
The song's about coming together as one in an ideal world. And we might not be able to accomplish that, but tonight we can start by making it a better place. Blake Lewis
Like academic Marxists, who are their sisters under the skin, libertarians are far more interested in an ideal world than in the one where ordinary humans live. Jacob Weisberg
In an ideal world for me, school lunch would be free for everybody. Tom Colicchio
In an ideal world I ought to have gone with him to observe their reactions, but in an ideal world heroes never get tired or depressed; what's more, heroes are paid more than me. Lindsey Davis