17 Most Common Dreams and Their Secret Meanings

Written By Lisa Marley

Dreams may be like movies our brains watch at night, but, in reality, they often have deeper meanings connected to our emotions and experiences while we’re awake. Unlock what your subconscious might be trying to tell you with these common dreams and their secret meanings.

Falling

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Dreams involving falls can represent a real-life worry, such as losing control or failing in your romantic or professional life. Dreams of falling indicate that something isn’t right in your life and can imply that you are overwhelmed. Maybe you should reconsider an option or take a different course in a certain aspect of your life.

Losing teeth

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Those horrible dreams where your teeth start falling out of your mouth are the worst. These dreams have a few different meanings. They sometimes indicate that you are worried about finances but can also reflect anxieties about personal appearance or how others perceive you, says Verywell Mind. These dreams might also symbolize a feeling of impotence or loss of control.

Flying

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Dreams of flying can be joyful and freeing, but they are also sometimes quite terrifying. Dreams where we are flying typically symbolize a desire for freedom or escaping from a stressful situation, but they can also represent a sense of freedom and the ability to overcome obstacles.

Being chased

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When you dream of being chased, it might indicate you are running away from a problem or issue in real life that needs addressing. But the identity of your pursuer plays a role, too. Being chased by an animal means you may be hiding from your own emotions, and an unidentified figure represents a past trauma.

Unprepared for an exam

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Exams are stressful experiences where you are forced to acknowledge your weaknesses. This dream may indicate a hidden fear of failure or being judged. Dreams about failing exams, showing up late for exams, or not being prepared indicate that you don’t feel ready for the demands of real life.

Naked in public

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Do you suffer from imposter syndrome? Dreams about being completely naked in public could mean that you feel like a fraud in real life and that you are terrified of showing off your weaknesses and imperfections, according to Forbes. They may also represent feelings of exposure or vulnerability in some aspects of waking life.

Infidelity

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Have you ever woken up feeling so upset and angry with your partner because they cheated on you in your dream and maybe even left you for someone else? They can make you so sad! When you have a dream involving adultery, it may imply concerns with trust, loyalty, and communication in your relationship.

Having an argument

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Arguing in our dreams may have a lot to do with our regrets. Sometimes we have dreams involving conflict with a former partner, or a friend or family member we have had problems with. These are suggestive of unresolved issues that you feel you should have apologized for but were unable to.

Being trapped

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When we dream of being trapped or crushed, it can reflect real-life feelings of being stuck or confined in a situation. This can indicate the desire to escape from limiting circumstances or relationships, Dream Dictionary tells us, or that you feel as though you are being denied freedom by something or someone.

Losing Money

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Losing money in a dream can be related to your anxieties about financial security or economic loss. However, because money is equal to status and importance in many areas of life, it can also symbolize feelings of worthlessness or inadequacy.

Death or dying

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Dreams of dying often reflect our fear of the unknown or fear of change. This may be related to leaving a job, ending a relationship, moving house, or any situation in which you are saying goodbye to a part of your life. It symbolizes the end of something in your life, like a relationship or career phase.

Taking a Journey

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When a dream involves taking a journey, this can reflect your path in life or a current life journey you are undertaking, like beginning a new job, buying a house, or starting a family. The journey in your dream is a metaphor for personal growth or change.

House on fire

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These dreams can be terrifying, and often, a house on fire in your dream might symbolize a warning about a risky situation in your life that you are subconsciously worried about. Maybe you are going through emotional upheavals or conflicts within your personal life.

Getting lost

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Being lost in a dream can show a search for direction or identity in one’s life. It can represent feelings of confusion or uncertainty about a life decision. If you are trying to find your way back home in the dream, it can indicate that you’re uncomfortable in a situation and that your boundaries are being crossed.

Missing a flight, bus, or train

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Missing public transport in a dream can mean we have issues or fears about managing time or priorities in waking life. These dreams might reflect real feelings of missing out on opportunities, or anxious about an event and worried about how it will turn out, or if we should even attend, according to Readers Digest.

Natural disasters

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Mother Nature can be devastating, and so can fear and anxiety. Natural disasters like severe weather events or tsunamis can reflect overwhelming feelings of stress or emotions. They are quite typical among people who worry a lot. Weather can symbolize uncontrollably high levels of tension and stress, as well as your feelings at the time of the dream.

Returning to School

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In school, circumstances were often more stressful, and people usually had less control than they did anywhere else. Dreaming of being back in school can be linked to work stress–the tension in the dream and the worry of real life are connected. It can also relate to learning lessons in your life or a desire to complete unfinished business.

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