fever dream

American  

[fee-ver dreem] / ˈfi vər ˌdrim /

noun

1. a particularly distressing, scary, or bizarre dream that a person may have when experiencing a fever.

   Bedridden with pneumonia, he had a fever dream in which bony old cats were climbing the walls of his room.

2. a situation, circumstance, or experience, typically unfavorable, that is odd enough to be likened more to a dream than to reality.

   So far, college has felt like a fever dream—ever since I arrived I’ve just felt so out of place.

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Etymology

Origin of fever dream

First recorded in 1795–1805

Example Sentences

Philadelphia’s three stars started synthesizing like a fever dream of the Sixers heterodox team president, Daryl Morey.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026

It is no wonder the image of Cannavaro holding the trophy aloft at the Olympiastadion now feels like a fever dream to most Italians.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

It was a fever dream of geopolitical conquest.

From Salon • Feb. 22, 2026

In contrast to this bright, festooned, walnut-trimmed coffeehouse, the memory of the old location feels like a fever dream.

From Slate • Dec. 22, 2025

Or maybe the girls were right and he was some strange fever dream brought on by the island, a prince mirage.

From "Beauty Queens" by Libba Bray