nightmare
HighUniversal
Definition
Meaning
A very frightening or unpleasant dream.
Any extremely unpleasant, terrifying, or difficult experience or situation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Originally referred specifically to a bad dream induced by the 'mare' (an evil spirit) sitting on a sleeper's chest. Now widely used metaphorically for any distressing experience.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally frequent and identically used in both BrE and AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
to have a nightmareto be a nightmarenightmare of (something)nightmare about (something)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a nightmare on legs”
- “a bureaucratic nightmare”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Metaphorical: 'The software migration turned into a logistical nightmare.'
Academic
Rare literal use in psychology/neuroscience; common metaphorical use: 'The post-war period was a political nightmare.'
Everyday
Most common: 'My toddler was a nightmare at the supermarket today.'
Technical
In sleep medicine: 'Patient reports frequent nightmares with themes of pursuit.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Nightmare is not commonly used as a verb in BrE.
American English
- Nightmare is not commonly used as a verb in AmE.
adverb
British English
- Not used as an adverb.
American English
- Not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The adjective is 'nightmarish': 'It was a nightmarish scenario.'
American English
- The adjective is 'nightmarish': 'It was a nightmarish commute.'
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I had a nightmare about monsters.
- The noisy street is a nightmare for my baby.
- Travelling during the holidays can be a real nightmare.
- I woke up from a terrible nightmare.
- Organising the conference single-handedly was an administrative nightmare.
- The recurring nightmare stemmed from her childhood anxiety.
- The company's foray into the new market descended into a financial and public relations nightmare.
- For survivors, the accident replayed in their minds like a waking nightmare.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a MARE (female horse) galloping through the NIGHT - a frightening image that sticks in the mind.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIFFICULTIES ARE NIGHTMARES (e.g., 'The exam was a nightmare.')
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'nightmarish' adjective ('кошмарный'). 'Nightmare' is primarily a noun ('кошмар').
- Avoid direct translation of 'see a nightmare' (incorrect). Use 'have a nightmare'.
Common Mistakes
- *I saw a nightmare last night. (Correct: I had a nightmare.)
- *It was nightmare. (Correct: It was a nightmare.)
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the most natural collocation with 'nightmare' to describe a complex problem?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A 'nightmare' is specifically a frightening dream that often wakes the sleeper, while a 'bad dream' is a more general term for any unpleasant dream.
No, 'nightmare' is almost exclusively a noun. The related adjective is 'nightmarish'.
It is neutral and acceptable in all registers, from casual conversation to formal writing when used metaphorically.
It comes from Old English 'niht' (night) + 'mare' (an evil spirit or goblin thought to lie upon and suffocate sleepers).