Words / A2

NYTM-air/ˈnaɪtmeə/

A nightmare is a frightening dream, or a very bad experience: have a nightmare, a traffic nightmare, a nightmare journey. Dream is the general word; a nightmare is a bad one. Bad dream is a simpler cousin. Do not write nightmare when you mean night-time, or nightwear (pyjamas).

Meaning

A very frightening dream; also a very bad experience.

Examples

• “She woke up from a nightmare about missing the train.”
• “The delay at the airport was a nightmare.”
• “He still has nightmares about the storm at sea.”

Good to know

have a nightmare / a nightmare journey. General: dream. Mix-up: night-time.

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