ivory tower

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

ivory tower
    n 1: a state of mind that is discussed as if it were a place;
         "he lived in the ivory tower of speculation"; "they viewed
         universities as ivory towers"

from Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

18 Moby Thesaurus words for "ivory tower":
      adytum, ashram, cell, cloister, den, hermitage, hideaway, hideout,
      hiding place, holy of holies, lair, mew, privacy, recess, retreat,
      sanctum, sanctum sanctorum, secret place

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