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

The tender for the mobile cognitive warfare unit reads like a “fever dream” of Chinese military AI ambitions, said Sam Bresnick, a research fellow at CSET.

From The Wall Street Journal

“It was a gift from a fever dream,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Slate

We watch those things very carefully to bring some of those elements out in this kind of fever dream that is this film.

From Los Angeles Times

He wakes up from this dream, this fever dream of no consequences.

From Los Angeles Times