noun
fever dream
FEE-vuhr dreem
Fever dream (noun) means something so strange, disorienting or hard to believe that it feels unreal, as though it were imagined rather than lived through. Example: “The last week of the campaign was a complete fever dream.”
noun
1
informal Something so strange, disorienting or hard to believe that it feels unreal, as though it were imagined rather than lived through.
"The last week of the campaign was a complete fever dream."
"The film plays like a fever dream, jumping between decades with no warning."
2
A vivid, confused and often frightening dream experienced by someone with a high temperature.
"He spent the night sweating through fever dreams about missing a train."
How to use fever dream
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething so odd it barely feels like it really happened.
When to use it
The figurative sense is informal and very common in reviews, social media and journalism. The literal medical sense is neutral.
Memory tip
Used figuratively it is usually a compliment about atmosphere in art, but a complaint about chaos in real life. Tone comes from the context, not the phrase.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
like a fever dream
fever dream of a film
collective fever dream
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The last week of the campaign was a complete _____.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for fever dream
See all rhymes for fever dream →Frequently asked questions
What does it mean to call something a fever dream?
It means the thing was so strange or overwhelming that it felt unreal while it was happening and hard to piece together afterwards. People use it for chaotic periods, bizarre events and films with dreamlike logic.
Are fever dreams a real medical thing?
Yes. A raised body temperature disturbs sleep and is associated with more vivid, unpleasant and disjointed dreams, which people often remember clearly. They are unsettling but not in themselves a sign of anything serious.
What is the difference between a fever dream and a nightmare?
A nightmare is frightening and usually has a followable story. A fever dream is defined more by distortion and confusion than by fear, and often has no coherent plot at all.
What is the meaning of fever dream?
"fever dream" (noun) means something so strange, disorienting or hard to believe that it feels unreal, as though it were imagined rather than lived through.
