dream of
dream of — phrasal verb
- dream ofbase form
- dreams of3rd person singular
- dreaming of-ing form
- dreamed ofpast simple
1. to think of something as a possible course of action, or to consider it appropri
to think of something as a possible course of action, or to consider it appropriate or acceptable in a given situation — almost always used in negative statements to express the idea that you would never do something because it seems wrong, unsuitable, or far beyond what you expect.
Caio wouldn't dream of borrowing his roommate's laptop without asking first.
wouldn't dream of + [gerund] for strong refusal
Mei never dreamed of studying abroad until her teacher showed her the scholarship application forms.
never dreamed of + [gerund] for something beyond expectation
The restaurant staff would never dream of serving a dish that did not meet the chef's standards.
Emre wouldn't dream of asking his grandmother for money, even though he really needed help with the rent.
- consider
more neutral and less emphatic; lacks the moral 'unthinkable' tone of 'wouldn't dream of'
- contemplate
slightly more formal, often used in the same negative structure ('wouldn't contemplate')
- entertain
more formal; 'wouldn't entertain the idea' is a close equivalent
- dare
used in positive contexts where 'dream of' would be negative: 'I dare to try' vs. 'I wouldn't dream of trying'
文法句型
would not/wouldn't dream of + gerund/noun
never dreamed of + gerund/noun
用法筆記
This sense is almost always used with a negative word (not, never). In affirmative contexts, 'dream of' usually refers to aspirational hopes (dreaming of a better future), which is a different meaning. Distinguish from sense 1 (actual sleep-dreaming) by the negative construction and the focus on moral or practical appropriateness.