Curious Conversations 09

Dreams That Make No Sense

C1-C2 Level | 50 minutes | 5 Key Expressions

Why Are Our Dreams So Weird?

We spend about 6 years of our lives dreaming—that's 2,190 days of bizarre brain theater

You're flying through your childhood home, which is somehow also your office. Your teeth are falling out. You're taking an exam for a class you never attended. Your best friend is there, but they have your brother's face. You can't run. Your phone won't dial. You're naked at work but nobody notices.

Sound familiar? Every night, our brains create these bizarre narratives that make perfect sense while we're asleep, then seem completely absurd when we wake up. But why are dreams so weird?

Research from Harvard Medical School shows that 95% of dreams are forgotten within 10 minutes of waking. The ones we do remember tend to be the strangest ones—the ones that violate the laws of physics, logic, and social norms.

Neuroscientist Matthew Walker explains that during REM sleep (when most vivid dreams occur), the prefrontal cortex—the logical, rational part of our brain—basically shuts down. Meanwhile, our emotional centers go into overdrive. This is why in dreams, it feels completely normal to have a conversation with your deceased grandmother who is also somehow a dolphin.

The average person has 4-6 dreams per night, though most are forgotten. Research shows that 65% of dreams contain at least one bizarre or impossible element. Common dream themes are remarkably universal across cultures: being chased (60%), falling (53%), being unable to run (40%), and teeth falling out (39%).

Here's what makes it even more fascinating: studies show we can't tell the difference between dream and reality while we're dreaming. Our sleeping brain doesn't have the capacity to question "Wait, why does my boss have wings?" It just accepts it and moves on.

Think About It:

  • What's the weirdest dream you can remember?
  • Do you have recurring dreams? What are they about?
  • Have you ever had a dream that felt so real you weren't sure if it actually happened?
  • Do you think dreams mean something, or are they just random brain activity?

Describing Dreams

Click each expression to see how it's used

1. "It made no sense, but..."
Formality: Neutral/Informal
Meaning: Used to acknowledge something illogical before explaining it. Perfect for describing dreams where bizarre things feel normal at the time.
Example:
"In my dream, I was taking an exam in a grocery store. It made no sense, but at the time it felt completely normal."
NOW YOU TRY:
Think of a weird dream detail. Start with "It made no sense, but in my dream..."
2. "Out of nowhere..."
Formality: Neutral/Informal
Meaning: Describes something appearing suddenly or unexpectedly. Dreams constantly shift scenes and characters without transition—this expression captures that.
Example:
"I was walking through my old school, and out of nowhere, it turned into a beach and my childhood dog appeared."
NOW YOU TRY:
Describe a time in a dream when the scene or situation suddenly changed. Use "Out of nowhere..."
3. "For some reason..."
Formality: Neutral
Meaning: Acknowledges something happening without logical explanation. In dreams, things just "are" without needing to make sense—this expression captures that acceptance.
Example:
"For some reason, I was convinced I had to get to the airport even though I wasn't going anywhere. That's just how it felt in the dream."
NOW YOU TRY:
Think of something in a dream that had no explanation. Say: "For some reason, I..."

Making Sense of Dreams

4. "Looking back on it..."
Formality: Neutral
Meaning: Reflects on something from a present perspective. Perfect for analyzing dreams after waking, when the absurdity becomes obvious.
Example:
"Looking back on it, the dream was completely absurd—why was I trying to have a serious conversation with someone who kept turning into different people?"
NOW YOU TRY:
Think about a dream detail that seemed normal at the time but weird later. Say: "Looking back on it..."
5. "I can't quite put my finger on it, but..."
Formality: Neutral
Meaning: Describes a feeling or sense of something that's hard to articulate precisely. Dreams often have emotional tones or meanings that are felt but not easily explained.
Example:
"I can't quite put my finger on it, but that recurring dream where I'm lost in a building always leaves me feeling anxious even after I wake up."
NOW YOU TRY:
Think about how a dream made you feel, even if you can't explain why. Use this expression to describe it.

All 5 Expressions:

  • "It made no sense, but..." — acknowledging dream logic
  • "Out of nowhere..." — sudden dream shifts
  • "For some reason..." — unexplained dream elements
  • "Looking back on it..." — reflecting on dream absurdity
  • "I can't quite put my finger on it, but..." — hard-to-explain dream feelings

Choose Your Discussion Topics

Select 2-3 cards below that interest you most. Share your dream experiences and theories!

Your Weirdest Dream
Describe the strangest, most bizarre dream you can remember. What made it so weird? Did it leave you confused when you woke up?
Recurring Dreams
Do you have dreams that repeat? Being chased? Flying? Can't find something? What do you think they mean?
Dreams vs. Reality
Have you ever woken up unsure if something actually happened or was just a dream? Why are some dreams so convincing?
Nightmares
What causes nightmares? Do you remember childhood nightmares? Why do we sometimes enjoy scary movies but hate scary dreams?
Do Dreams Mean Something?
Are dreams your subconscious trying to tell you something? Or just random brain activity? Can you interpret dreams?
Lucid Dreaming
Have you ever realized you were dreaming while still asleep? Can people control their dreams? Would you want to?

Your Selected Topics:

Click 2-3 cards above...

Use These Expressions:

  • "It made no sense, but..."
  • "Out of nowhere..."
  • "For some reason..."
  • "Looking back on it..."
  • "I can't quite put my finger on it, but..."

Timed Speaking Challenge

Choose a challenge below and speak for the full time. Try to use at least 3 of the expressions you learned!

The Dream Narrator
Describe one of your memorable dreams in detail—the setting, the characters, the bizarre logic. Make us see what you saw.
Dream Psychology
Do you believe dreams have meaning? Defend your position—are they messages from our subconscious or just random brain activity?
If You Could Control Dreams
If you could control what you dream about tonight, what would you choose? Why? What would be the perfect dream?
The Pattern Hunter
What patterns do you notice in your dreams? Recurring themes, emotions, or situations? What do you think causes them?
3:00

Remember to Use:

  • "It made no sense, but..."
  • "Out of nowhere..."
  • "For some reason..."
  • "Looking back on it..."
  • "I can't quite put my finger on it, but..."

Great Work Today!

You Learned 5 Expressions:

  1. "It made no sense, but..." — acknowledging dream logic
  2. "Out of nowhere..." — sudden dream shifts
  3. "For some reason..." — unexplained dream elements
  4. "Looking back on it..." — reflecting on dream absurdity
  5. "I can't quite put my finger on it, but..." — hard-to-explain feelings

Quick Self-Check:

  • Did you use at least 3 expressions during discussion?
  • Which expression felt most natural to use?
  • Which one do you want to practice more?
  • Did sharing dream stories spark interesting conversation?

This Week:

Try to use these expressions when telling stories or describing experiences that are hard to explain. Pay attention to when you hear native speakers use them. And next time you remember a dream, try describing it using today's expressions!

Fun fact: Keeping a dream journal by your bed helps you remember more dreams. The act of writing them down signals to your brain that dreams are important, so you'll start remembering them more clearly!

Next: Curious Conversations 10 - The Lies We Tell to Be Polite