Dream on is an ironic reply meaning “that's never going to happen”. You say it when someone hopes for something you think is unrealistic. Between friends and close colleagues it sounds like harmless teasing, but it is better not to say it to your boss, a client or someone you don't know well. A neutral alternative: I don't think that's likely. It is not used in essays or business correspondence.
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Dream on! (reply to an unrealistic hope); If you think + clause, dream on.
- 'Maybe the boss will give us Friday off.' 'Dream on! We have a deadline.'
- If you think the landlord will fix the heating this week, dream on.
- My brother thinks he'll pass his driving test without any lessons. Dream on!
What changed
First versionYou want to open your own café? That's great, dream on!
RevisionYou want to open your own café? That's great, go for it!
Dream on is easy to take literally, as “keep dreaming”, and use as encouragement. But in conversation it is mockery: “you're dreaming, it won't happen”. The listener will hear that you don't believe in their café. For sincere support, use go for it.
A similar mocking reply uses dreams: Me, clean your room? In your dreams! For sincere support, other phrases work: go for it or follow your dreams.
Your turn
My friend is sure his company will give everyone a big bonus this year, even though it's losing money. I laughed and said, '___!'
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Dream on — The friend is hoping for something that almost certainly won't happen: the company is losing money, yet he expects a bonus. The mocking reply to such a hope is Dream on. Go for it encourages someone to do something, but the friend has nothing to do: he is just waiting for the company's decision.
Write a short dialogue with a friend. One person expresses an unrealistic hope, and the other replies Dream on and explains why it won't come true.
'I think the airline will upgrade us to business class for free.' 'Dream on! We booked the cheapest tickets.'
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