40 English Idioms Relating to Dreams

Have you ever heard someone say they’re “living the dream” or that something happened “beyond their wildest dreams”?

These phrases are called idioms, and English has dozens of them related to dreams and sleep.

Understanding these expressions will help you sound more natural and confident when speaking English.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore 40 dream-related idioms that native English speakers use every day.

Whether you’re a beginner just starting your English journey or an advanced learner looking to polish your skills, this article will help you master these colorful expressions.

This topic is part of our English Idioms & Phrases for English learners.

What Are Idioms and Why Should You Learn Them?

Before we dive into our list, let’s clarify what an idiom actually is. An idiom is a phrase or expression whose meaning isn’t obvious from the individual words. For example, “pipe dream” doesn’t literally mean a dream about pipes. It means an unrealistic hope or fantasy.

Learning idioms is essential because native speakers use them constantly in everyday conversation, movies, books, and professional settings. When you understand idioms, you’ll comprehend English more deeply and express yourself more naturally.

40 Dream Idioms You Need to Know

Idioms About Unrealistic Dreams

1. Pipe dream Meaning: An unrealistic or impossible hope Example: “Becoming a millionaire overnight is just a pipe dream.”

2. Castle in the air Meaning: An impractical plan or daydream Example: “His plan to quit his job without savings is a castle in the air.”

3. Pie in the sky Meaning: A pleasant but unrealistic promise Example: “The politician’s promises sound like pie in the sky to me.”

4. Wishful thinking Meaning: Believing something will happen just because you want it to Example: “Hoping it won’t rain without checking the forecast is wishful thinking.”

Idioms About Positive Dreams and Success

5. Dream come true Meaning: When something you wished for actually happens Example: “Getting accepted to Harvard was a dream come true for her.”

6. Living the dream Meaning: Experiencing an ideal lifestyle Example: “Working from the beach? You’re living the dream!”

7. Beyond your wildest dreams Meaning: Better than you ever imagined possible Example: “The success of her book was beyond her wildest dreams.”

8. Chase your dreams Meaning: To pursue your goals and ambitions Example: “Don’t let fear stop you from chasing your dreams.”

9. Follow your dreams Meaning: To do what you really want in life Example: “She quit her corporate job to follow her dreams of being an artist.”

10. Realize your dreams Meaning: To make your dreams become reality Example: “With hard work and dedication, you can realize your dreams.”

Idioms About Nightmares and Bad Dreams

11. Worst nightmare Meaning: The worst possible situation you can imagine Example: “Losing all my data was my worst nightmare.”

12. Living nightmare Meaning: An ongoing terrible situation Example: “The evacuation during the fire was a living nightmare.”

13. Bad dream Meaning: An unpleasant experience (not just while sleeping) Example: “That job interview was like a bad dream.”

14. Nightmare scenario Meaning: The worst possible outcome Example: “A data breach would be a nightmare scenario for our company.”

Idioms About Sleep and Dreaming

15. Not lose any sleep over something Meaning: Not to worry about something Example: “I wouldn’t lose any sleep over their opinion.”

16. In your dreams Meaning: Said when something is impossible or won’t happen Example: “You think I’ll lend you money again? In your dreams!”

17. Like a dream Meaning: Very smoothly or perfectly Example: “The event went like a dream—no problems at all.”

18. Dream on Meaning: Suggesting that something is unrealistic (often sarcastic) Example: “You expect me to work for free? Dream on!”

19. Wouldn’t dream of it Meaning: Would never consider doing something Example: “I wouldn’t dream of missing your wedding.”

20. Daydream Meaning: To let your mind wander with pleasant thoughts Example: “Stop daydreaming and focus on your homework!”

Idioms About Ambitions and Aspirations

21. Reach for the stars Meaning: To set very high goals Example: “Don’t be afraid to reach for the stars in your career.”

22. Shoot for the moon Meaning: To aim for something ambitious Example: “Even if you fail, shoot for the moon and you’ll land among the stars.”

23. The American Dream Meaning: The ideal of prosperity and success through hard work Example: “They immigrated to pursue the American Dream.”

24. Dream big Meaning: To have ambitious goals Example: “If you’re going to dream, dream big!”

25. Ambitious dreams Meaning: Goals that require great effort to achieve Example: “She has ambitious dreams of opening her own hospital.”

Idioms About Impossible Situations

26. Not in your wildest dreams Meaning: Something you never imagined would happen Example: “Not in my wildest dreams did I think I’d meet a celebrity today.”

27. Dream up Meaning: To invent or imagine something Example: “Who dreamed up this crazy marketing campaign?”

28. Never in a million years Meaning: Something extremely unlikely to happen Example: “Never in a million years would I have guessed that answer.”

Idioms About Reality vs. Dreams

29. Wake-up call Meaning: An event that makes you realize something important Example: “Failing that test was a wake-up call that I need to study harder.”

30. Rude awakening Meaning: A shocking realization of the truth Example: “He got a rude awakening when he saw his credit card bill.”

31. Pinch yourself Meaning: To check if something amazing is real Example: “I had to pinch myself when I won the lottery.”

32. Seems like a dream Meaning: Something feels unreal or surreal Example: “Meeting my favorite author seems like a dream.”

33. Snap back to reality Meaning: To stop daydreaming and face the real situation Example: “It’s time to snap back to reality and finish this project.”

Idioms About Deep Sleep

34. Sleep like a baby Meaning: To sleep very well Example: “After that long hike, I slept like a baby.”

35. Dead to the world Meaning: In a very deep sleep Example: “After working 16 hours, he was dead to the world.”

36. Out like a light Meaning: To fall asleep immediately Example: “As soon as his head hit the pillow, he was out like a light.”

Idioms About Vague Memories or Ideas

37. In a fog Meaning: Confused or unclear Example: “I was in a fog during that entire meeting.”

38. Hazy memory Meaning: An unclear or vague recollection Example: “I have only a hazy memory of that childhood vacation.”

39. Dream-like state Meaning: A feeling of unreality or disconnection Example: “The medication left me in a dream-like state.”

40. Half asleep Meaning: Not fully awake or alert Example: “I was half asleep during the boring lecture.”

Tips for Learning and Using Dream Idioms

For Beginners

Start with common idioms: Focus on frequently used expressions like “dream come true,” “living the dream,” and “worst nightmare.” These appear regularly in everyday conversation.

Learn one idiom at a time: Don’t overwhelm yourself. Master one or two idioms per week by using them in sentences.

Create visual associations: Draw pictures or find images that help you remember what each idiom means. For example, visualize a castle floating in the air for “castle in the air.”

Practice with simple sentences: Write basic sentences using new idioms. “Winning the competition was a dream come true for me.”

For Advanced Learners

Understand subtle differences: Learn the nuances between similar idioms. For instance, “pipe dream” and “castle in the air” both mean unrealistic plans, but “pipe dream” often implies something more obviously impossible.

Use idioms in context: Practice incorporating idioms naturally into conversations, emails, and presentations. Pay attention to formal versus informal usage.

Study idiom origins: Understanding where idioms come from helps you remember them. For example, “pipe dream” comes from opium pipe hallucinations in the 1800s.

Watch for variations: Native speakers often modify idioms. “Living the dream” might become “living my best dream life.”

How to Practice These Idioms Effectively

1. Keep an idiom journal: Write down new idioms with their meanings, example sentences, and situations where you could use them.
2. Watch English media: Movies, TV shows, and podcasts are full of idioms. When you hear one, pause and note it down.
3. Use flashcards: Create physical or digital flashcards with the idiom on one side and the meaning plus example on the other.
4. Join conversation groups: Practice using idioms with other English learners or native speakers. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes—that’s how you learn!
5. Read extensively: Books, articles, and blogs expose you to idioms in natural contexts.
6. Test yourself regularly: Quiz yourself weekly on the idioms you’ve learned to ensure they stick in your memory.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Literal translations: Don’t translate idioms word-for-word into your native language. Learn them as complete phrases.

Overusing idioms: While idioms make your English more natural, using too many in one conversation sounds forced. Sprinkle them in naturally.

Wrong context: Make sure the idiom fits the situation. “Living the dream” works for positive situations, not negative ones.

Mixing up similar idioms: Be careful not to confuse “pipe dream” with “pipe down” (be quiet) or “dream come true” with “wish come true.”

Conclusion

Mastering these 40 dream-related idioms will significantly enhance your English fluency and help you understand native speakers better. Remember that learning idioms takes time and practice, so be patient with yourself. Start with the most common expressions, use them regularly in conversation, and gradually expand your repertoire.

Whether you’re chasing your dreams, dealing with a nightmare scenario, or just trying not to lose sleep over your English studies, these idioms will help you express yourself more naturally and confidently. Keep practicing, stay motivated, and before you know it, using these expressions will seem like a dream!

What’s your favorite idiom from this list? Start using it today and watch your English skills soar beyond your wildest dreams!