(~s, ~ing, ~ed, ~t)
Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.
Note: American English uses the form '~ed' as the past tense and past participle. British English uses either '~ed' or '~t'.
1.
A ~ is an imaginary series of events that you experience in your mind while you are asleep.
He had a ~ about Claire...
I had a ~ that I was in an old study, surrounded by leather books.
N-COUNT
2.
When you ~, you experience imaginary events in your mind while you are asleep.
Ivor ~ed that he was on a bus...
She ~ed about her baby.
VERB: V that, V about/of n, also V
3.
You can refer to a situation or event as a ~ if you often think about it because you would like it to happen.
He had finally accomplished his ~ of becoming a pilot...
My ~ is to have a house in the country...
= ambition
N-COUNT: usu with supp
4.
If you often think about something that you would very much like to happen or have, you can say that you ~ of it.
As a schoolgirl, she had ~ed of becoming an actress...
For most of us, a brand new designer kitchen is something we can only ~ about...
I ~ that my son will attend college and find a good job.
VERB: V of/about n/-ing, V of/about n/-ing, V that
5.
You can use ~ to describe something that you think is ideal or perfect, especially if it is something that you thought you would never be able to have or experience.
...a ~ holiday to Jamaica.
ADJ: ADJ n
6.
If you describe something as a particular person’s ~, you think that it would be ideal for that person and that he or she would like it very much.
Greece is said to be a botanist’s ~...
N-SING: poss N
7.
If you say that something is a ~, you mean that it is wonderful. (INFORMAL)
N-SING: a N
8.
You can refer to a situation or event that does not seem real as a ~, especially if it is very strange or unpleasant.
When the right woman comes along, this bad ~ will be over.
N-COUNT: usu sing, with supp
9.
If you say that you would not ~ of doing something, you are emphasizing that you would never do it because you think it is wrong or is not possible or suitable for you.
I wouldn’t ~ of making fun of you...
VERB: with neg, V of -ing/n emphasis
10.
If you say that you never ~ed that something would happen, you are emphasizing that you did not think that it would happen because it seemed very unlikely.
I never ~ed that I would be able to afford a home here...
Who could ever ~ of a disaster like this?...
VERB: with brd-neg, V that, V of n emphasis
11.
see also pipe ~ , wet ~
12.
If you say that you are in a ~, you mean that you do not concentrate properly on what you are doing because you are thinking about other things.
All day long I moved in a ~.
PHRASE: PHR after v, v-link PHR
13.
If you say that someone does something like a ~, you think that they do it very well. If you say that something happens like a ~, you mean that it happens successfully without any problems.
She cooked like a ~...
PHRASE: PHR after v
14.
If you describe someone or something as the person or thing of your ~s, you mean that you consider them to be ideal or perfect.
This could be the man of my ~s.
PHRASE: n PHR
15.
If you say that you could not imagine a particular thing in your wildest ~s, you are emphasizing that you think it is extremely strange or unlikely.
Never in my wildest ~s did I think we could win.
PHRASE: with brd-neg, PHR with cl emphasis
16.
If you describe something as being beyond your wildest ~s, you are emphasizing that it is better than you could have imagined or hoped for.
She had already achieved success beyond her wildest ~s.
PHRASE: n PHR, PHR after v, v-link PHR emphasis