dream symbol

Everyday Things Dream Meaning

Although you may have your share of fantasy dream scenarios, the chances are your dreams will also be littered with everyday items and situations you are familiar with in real life.

Perhaps you have come into contact with one particular item or situation more often than any other, this familiarity explaining its appearance in your dream. According to Christopher Evans, a British psychologist and computer scientist, the appearance of everyday things in dreams is simply the brain’s way of processing and arranging information. Most dream analysts, however, find this explanation unconvincing and argue that everyday things in dreams contain symbolic values and may represent far more than their everyday function might suggest. The ways in which common items are used and everyday situations are experienced in dreams have enormous significance, as does the context or scenario in which they appear. In other words, everyday images in dreams operate in much the same way as all symbols and their appearance in dreams is a testimony to their shared, as well as to their individual, meaning. In this chapter, some of the most common everyday items and experiences you may encounter in your dreams will be explored. [1]

What Do You Think About This Dream?

Sources and Authors

  1. The Element Encyclopedia by Theresa Cheung [Back to dream]

What does EVERYDAY THINGS mean in a dream?


Although you may have your share of fantasy dream scenarios, the chances are your dreams will also be littered with everyday items and situations you are familiar with in real...

Learn more about the meaning of Everyday Things

Material aspects: When we are using magic both in dreams and in everyday life, we are using our energy to accomplish something without effort or difficulty. We are capable of...

Learn more about the meaning of Magic / Magician

Dreaming about housework can simply be a reflection of our everyday tasks. Otherwise, it can refer to “getting our house together,” or cleaning out the things that no longer serve...

Learn more about the meaning of Housework

A tablecloth on the table indicates a tendency to be overprotective. You attach great importance to material things. It also expresses a certain inertia in everyday life. You are conservative...

Learn more about the meaning of Tablecloth

Psychological / emotional perspective: Raw emotion is present in dreams when we are able to access hose things we choose to cover up in everyday life. Where we have difficulty...

Learn more about the meaning of Raw

In everyday life we may be very timid, in which case sadism in a dream is an escape mechanism.If we have to be dominant and controlling in everyday life, the...

Learn more about the meaning of Sadism

The things we take for granted which act as the sup­portive background to our life and activities, such as parental love, our own reality as a person, social order, the...

Learn more about the meaning of Earth

Material aspects: Lists and such techniques help us to maintain order in our everyday lives, dreaming of such things often allows us to prioritize basic tasks. In dreams, finding that...

Learn more about the meaning of Order

Words are themselves symbols of objects, ideas, or feelings. Whether we look at mathematical equations, a film, a novel, or a business logo, each involves the use of symbols. When...

Learn more about the meaning of Symbols And Dreaming

Psychological / emotional perspective: Confusion in dreams usually alerts us to the need to categorize or sort out those things we do not understand. When we ourselves are babbling, we...

Learn more about the meaning of Babble

Material aspects: Because a kettle is such a mundane, everyday object, to dream of one indicates our more practical, pragmatic side. Perhaps we are taking certain things for granted.If the...

Learn more about the meaning of Kettle

1- Speed in dreams identifies an intensity of feelings which is not usually available in waking life. Because everything is happening too quickly, it engenders anxiety in the dreamer which...

Learn more about the meaning of Speed

also see TableIf the desk we are dreaming about is an old one, such as our old school desk or an antique one we perhaps should be returning to old...

Learn more about the meaning of Desk

Psychological / emotional perspective: To dream of being mediumistic would indicate that we are aware of greater powers than we believe we have in ordinary everyday life. When spirits appear...

Learn more about the meaning of Medium

You are unlikely to have dreams about riding a horse instead of using a car. Today our dreams are filled with cars, televisions, plastic surgery, airplane crashes and the most...

Learn more about the meaning of Contemporary Images

Like many other common elements of our everyday experience, darkness can represent a wide range of things.As the polar opposite of light, darkness may represent evil, death, fear of the...

Learn more about the meaning of Darkness

Any dream about about zombies - also called the living dead - may carry a powerful message to you.If you are the zombie in your dream, it is a signal...

Learn more about the meaning of Zombie

Money in dreams represents things of great value to you, but such dreams are not necessarily about monetary value.For Jung, money is a symbol of the power required to achieve...

Learn more about the meaning of Money And Shopping

If one of your favorite leisure activities featured in your dream, your unconscious may have chosen this image to send you a useful message.Your dreaming mind may have been urging...

Learn more about the meaning of Leisure

Psychological / emotional perspective: In ordinary everyday life, symbols that have a long history become fixed in, and used by, our unconscious – often to represent other happier times or...

Learn more about the meaning of Horseshoe

lucky numbers: 12-22-28-34-36-40foodstuff being: loss in business through your misrepresentation of yourself. other’s things: wil have hard times if you take on more burdens than your own. things: future disgrace....

Learn more about the meaning of Contaminated

Experiencing much anxiety in your dream state may be related to your current difficulties and everyday life. Gaps may exist between the way things are and the way you would...

Learn more about the meaning of Anxiety

1- On a purely practical level a pipe can symbolise many things.A water pipe can give information as to how we might handle our emotions (the size and type in...

Learn more about the meaning of Pipe

1- Wages are normally paid in exchange for work done. In dreams, to be receiving wages signifies that we have done a good job.To be paying somebody wages implies that...

Learn more about the meaning of Wages

Material aspects: Money and personal resources tend to be the things with which most people have difficulty. In our everyday life our financial, mental or spiritual resources may need careful...

Learn more about the meaning of Bank / Banker

Vision: Seeing a prostitute: be careful, you are keeping bad company. This dream always is a warning that the company you keep might have serious consequences.Depth Psychology: A prostitute can...

Learn more about the meaning of Prostitute

1- When dreaming, there is an hallucinatory quality about everything that we see. We usually accept what we experience as real and in the actual dream state do not question....

Learn more about the meaning of Hallucinations

To dream that you break something, like a window or a chair, indicates that changes lie ahead and that you want to change the direction in which your life is...

Learn more about the meaning of Breaking Things

1- When a puppet appears in a dream there is perhaps a sense of being able to manipulate circumstances or people around us.A puppet can also represent the more mechanical...

Learn more about the meaning of Puppet

If the house is one we know, live in now or in the past, what is said about home applies.If it is a house created by the dream: one’s body...

Learn more about the meaning of House

also see Drugs1- When we dream of ‘making a hash’ of things, we arc making things difficult for ourselves, and are perhaps creating a problem where there isn’t one. We...

Learn more about the meaning of Hash

Sensual pleasure; pleasures in life; special love. Ex­ample: A lot of sweets, brightly wrapped, were being put into my open hands. All I saw of the giver were his hands....

Learn more about the meaning of Sweets

lucky numbers: 02-05-17-24-32-53buying in: are blessed with good friends. of articles: avoid squandering money, when a dol ar wil do. selling things in: profit becomes greater when multiplied. sending or...

Learn more about the meaning of Quantity

Almost all of us have dreams directly related to things we are involved iV with in our waking lives, so it is not surprising that we dream about computers, television,...

Learn more about the meaning of Media And Technology

1- To dream of a pocket is to be dealing with one’s personal secrets or thoughts - those things that we have deliberately chosen to hide rather than done so...

Learn more about the meaning of Pocket

The dream should be interpreted according to personal connotations attributed to this object in the dream. Someone shy about wearing them will surely recognize in this dream a source of...

Learn more about the meaning of Glasses

Organizing things (such as into categories, stacks, containers, or folders) can represent: Control or organization.A logical mental process.Trying to make sense of or understand something.Prejudging or labelling people or things.Breaking...

Learn more about the meaning of Organizing

also see Shop1- Dreaming that we are in a market indicates our ability to cope with everyday life, of being able to relate to people, but particularly to relate to...

Learn more about the meaning of Market / Marketplace

Most people who do dream work have found it helpful to establish a system that allows them to jot down the initial interpretation of the dream quickly. Such a system...

Learn more about the meaning of How To Begin

Accumulating, saving, or stocking up on things can represent an actual, desired, or feared: Situation of having plenty or too much of something (such as money, possessions, or love).Shortage of...

Learn more about the meaning of Accumulating

also see Analyst1- In dreams, to shrink is to have a desire to return to childhood, or to a smaller space in order to be looked after. In everyday life...

Learn more about the meaning of Shrink

Vehicles are so much a part of modern life that as a symbol in a dream they can represent the ways in which your outer or social experience in the...

Learn more about the meaning of Traffic

String connecting or binding things together can represent: Relationships, bonds, or communication.Feeling constricted or restrained (as in “feeling tied down”).String coming unwound can represent: a situation you perceive to be...

Learn more about the meaning of String

(see also Ascent, Height, Sky)(1) Climbing a mountain may symbolize cither achievement; or a task or long-term undertaking.(2) Seeing things from a mountain top may symbolize passing vour life under...

Learn more about the meaning of Mountain

The poet combines lyricism with sharp insight, finding the essence of beauty and truth not only in the great epic affairs of humanity, but also in everyday acts and objects....

Learn more about the meaning of Poet

1- When a machine of any sort appears in a dream, it is often highlighting the body’s automatic functions such as breathing, heart beating, elimination - those mechanical drives towards...

Learn more about the meaning of Machine

The purpose of a shelf is to hold things. Consider the various reasons one might do so. Most objects put on a shelf are for display or to have ready...

Learn more about the meaning of Shelf

Example: ‘When I was very small probably even pre-school I often dreamt of flying. I was mostly dressed only in my short vest and usually floating upwards to escape adults...

Learn more about the meaning of Up, Upper

1- An orgy relates to a tremendous release of energy which can take place when we give ourselves permission to access our own sexuality.This permission will often be given subconsciously...

Learn more about the meaning of Orgy

In dreams, shops suggest what you want or think you need in waking life.If you are in a shop you know, then you are aware of what you want from...

Learn more about the meaning of Shop

Changing external situations, or internal response to situations; our moods and emotions.The following idioms give indications of the meaning. Idioms: sunny disposition; things don’t look so bnght; things will brighten...

Learn more about the meaning of Weather

Almost everything in our world that is organic in nature emits dust as a natural part of its aging or breakdown process. We consider that all things come to dust...

Learn more about the meaning of Dust

The ability to accomplish things or figure things out.Connection.You or your mind, brain, or mental ability.Communicating with others by computer can represent actual or imagined communications with those people.Your computer...

Learn more about the meaning of Computer

1. Tendency to magnify or distort things, making problems worse than they are—or less than they are.2. Look at something closer.3. Don’t make things bigger than they are.

Learn more about the meaning of Magnifying Glass

To see or hang an ornament in your dream, represents the things in your life and the things you do to make you feel good about yourself.It is also symbolic...

Learn more about the meaning of Ornaments

1- Pulling suggests a positive action. We arc being alerted to the fact that we can do something about a situation. In dreams, if we are pulling we are making...

Learn more about the meaning of Pulling

The unconscious mind may be hinting to you that the time for “throwing out” unnecessary things is at hand.The garbage in your dream could also represent those things from your...

Learn more about the meaning of Garbage

also see GhostAt its very basic level, we all have fears and feelings about death, and the appearance of Spirit helps us to come to terms with these. It will...

Learn more about the meaning of Spirits

Unknown aspect of oneself; pan we avoid meeting’ in everyday life.

Learn more about the meaning of Stranger

Closing things in or opening things up.

Learn more about the meaning of Zipper

When this dream occurs review what are the truly “precious” and “important” things that you want to take with you and decide what you can safely let go of to...

Learn more about the meaning of Losing Things

The eyes are the windows of the soul, so the saying goes. They are also the dominant sense with which human beings navigate their existence. There are many things that...

Learn more about the meaning of Eyes

Ability to meet the depths of feelings in the unconscious, as well as functioning all right in the everyday world.

Learn more about the meaning of Submarine

lucky numbers: 09-20-25-27-28-33city, of a: a real-life problem if dream becomes a tolerable fantasy. consulting someone about your dreams: expect news from far away. family of children, of a: difficulty...

Learn more about the meaning of Dreaming

One’s relationship with natural forces in self, feeling of being on the move, not putting down roots; getting away from everyday responsibilities.

Learn more about the meaning of Tent

lucky numbers: 01-15-27-36-40-42being released from: wil make an unexpected gain. confiscating another’s things: own affairs are in confusion. having own things confiscated: dangerous enterprises ahead. property, of: premonitions wil be...

Learn more about the meaning of Confiscation

Depth Psychology: Watching rituals: try to be less formal in your everyday dealings and don’t use empty phrases.See Ceremony.

Learn more about the meaning of Ritual

1. High regard for oneself.2. The ability to draw good things into one’s life.3. The ability to draw bad things into one’s life.4. One is already drawing good or bad...

Learn more about the meaning of Magnet

Creatively accomplishing something in the face of obstacles. Negative: Shying away from accepting oneself and things as they really are. Maybe fear of not presenting a good “image.” Positive: You...

Learn more about the meaning of Sculptor

To see or ride a glider in your dream represents your tendency to go with the flow of things instead of taking your own initiative and making changes in your...

Learn more about the meaning of Glider

To see a screw in your dream, suggests you feel taken advantage in some situation. Or, you might believe that you are messing things up in some way, or having...

Learn more about the meaning of Screw

Vision: Snuff is a sign of troubles to come. Are things or events stuck right now? Vent your anger and things will move along much better.

Learn more about the meaning of Snuff

To dream about being a farmer represents your ability to create things. You may not be working as hard as you can in life. You may have to make a...

Learn more about the meaning of Farmer

(Hair) To untangle ourselves from problems which cost us energy. Organizing energy. Can also be used to mean to set things aside. You’re brushing things aside.

Learn more about the meaning of Brush

To dream you are the victim of a haunting shows that you have many things on your mind, and/or things are “coming back to haunt you.”

Learn more about the meaning of Haunting

A storage area (such as a storage room or warehouse) can represent actual or desired: Saving or storing (such as of objects or memories).Procrastination or postponing.Accumulating (such as ideas, or...

Learn more about the meaning of Storage

Sometimes you may hear the most unexpected or even ridiculous things in your dreams, whether they are said by people, animals or even objects.If you simply can’t understand what someone...

Learn more about the meaning of Unexpected Utterance

1- Lightning in a dream denotes unexpected changes, which arc taking place or are about to take place. These may come about through some type of realisation or revelation. Often...

Learn more about the meaning of Lightning

To place things in the proper position, or to move them to a better place, or to give them a better environment in a dream means commandingwhat is good and...

Learn more about the meaning of Placing Things

(Gold leaf) In a dream, a gilder represents a decorator, someone who makes things attractive and pleasant or someone who coats things with sugar. In general, a gilder in a...

Learn more about the meaning of Gilder

To see something decomposing in your dream signifies the degradation of a situation or circumstance. Something in your life is falling apart - but remember, unhealthy things must fall aside...

Learn more about the meaning of Decompose

Hopeless situation; it is essential that something be done. Fear of political instability, Ruler. Greater attention needs to be paid to everyday occurrences.

Learn more about the meaning of Assassination

The aspect of ourself which is either kill­ing out our ‘animal’, or gaining sustenance from it; the urge to get away from everyday responsibility; our breadwinnir , qualities.

Learn more about the meaning of Hunter, Huntress

Licorice in a dream represents nostalgia and a connection to your childhood. You may desire a little indulgence in the sweeter things of life. Take time to enjoy the little...

Learn more about the meaning of Licorice

The thrills and dangers of everyday life. This dream symbol often points to your search for your personal, as yet unknown, abilities and possibilities, but also to danger.

Learn more about the meaning of Detective

Nurture yourself more, take care of yourself and your surroundings.If depending too much on others to satisfy your needs, get back to yourself and look after your own needs. Don’t...

Learn more about the meaning of Maid

Courage; fleeing from life and everyday burdens. Sexual symbol. In danger of losing the ground under your feet, or of wanting to lose it.

Learn more about the meaning of Rocket

If you dreamed of putting things in piles or seeing piles of things, your dream is warning you about a forgotten (or neglected) obligation which could suddenly embarrass you. Take...

Learn more about the meaning of Pile

1. A need or desire to fix things up, set them straight—often to repair or adjust attitudes and modes of be­havior, usually to improve emotional quality of life.2. Possible feelings...

Learn more about the meaning of Hardware Store

If you dreamed of putting things in piles or of seeing piles of things, you are being cautioned about a forgotten (or neglected) obligation which could suddenly embarrass you; don’t...

Learn more about the meaning of Pile(s)

Anyone who has ever raised teenagers knows all about cannibalism.(Just kidding!) This dream may reflect dark, destructive and forbidden desires or obsessions. Cannibals literally consume other people’s lives and, along...

Learn more about the meaning of Cannibalism

Psychological / emotional perspective: The image of a journey is a very potent one in dream work. Any time the idea of a journey becomes apparent, it is to do...

Learn more about the meaning of Journey

1. A message regarding taking things too seriously.2. A mes­sage of not taking things seriously enough.3. A longtime rid­dle or a puzzle may yet be solved.4. Someone may be taking...

Learn more about the meaning of Jester

To hear, speak or write rhymes in your dream, suggests that you are looking at things from a creative viewpoint. You will achieve much success through your ability to look...

Learn more about the meaning of Rhyming

One of the most annoying things about dreams is that images will vanish unexpectedly.The mind has a great capacity for ‘magic’; to dream of things vanishing, and then possibly reappearing,...

Learn more about the meaning of Vanish

Symbolic of doing things that are good for you or a symbol of needing to do things that are good for you

Learn more about the meaning of Vitamins

A drawer (such as in a dresser or cabinet) can represent: The idea of keeping or holding on to things.The way you organize things in your life or in your...

Learn more about the meaning of Drawer

A to Z Dream Interpretation