the American Dream
96
3.1
- noun
- /ði əˈmɛrɪkən drim/
- US
:
sueño americano
- Well, that was the American dream, to own a home.
- pursue the American Dream
- realize the American Dream
- believe in the American Dream
But in that though, the American dream is dead, right?
- But in that though, the American dream is dead, right?
- What side of the American Dream are you going to be on?
- My next guest is living proof that the American Dream is alive and well.
- Let me tell you, the American Dream has no shortcuts and no endpoint.
- That sad story is that the American Dream is dead.
- The Internet has made the American Dream easier to reach in terms of financial freedom.
- So it's a model that's been, I like to think of it as the American dream being transplanted all over the world.
- So it's basically a mirror of the American dream.
- Well, you know, Papa John's is the American dream.
- So you own a home and you should be proud that that's the American dream, right?
- Do you think the American Dream still there?
Examples
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My mission as President is to restore the American Dream to all of our people.
Academic text (1998) -
So pretty soon part of the American Dream became built on going to college.
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My next guest is living proof that the American Dream is alive and well.
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The Internet has made the American Dream easier to reach in terms of financial freedom.
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A small town boy trying to live the American dream.
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Because the American dream's still so powerful.
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I mean, what it sounds like is we're both living our own little version of the American dream.
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This is America, this is the American dream and everyone deserves it.
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Our nation needs an immigration system that serves the American economy and reflects the American Dream.
Academic text (2004) -
Many immigrants come to the United States in hopes of achieving the American Dream through hard work and perseverance.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
A hope or plan you strongly want to happen
103
3.9
The idea that anyone in the United States can become successful through hard work
How Achievable
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is compositionally built from 'American' (relating to the United States) and 'dream' (an aspiration), so a B1 learner who knows those words can infer it refers to a national ideal or aspiration associated with the US. While fuller socio-historical nuances (mobility, hard work) are cultural, the core meaning is directly derivable and cross-linguistically paralleled (e.g. Spanish 'sueño americano'), making it transparent to learners.
Etymology
The American Dream was made famous by writer James Truslow Adams and paints a simple picture of people coming to the United States and working hard to build a home and a better life. So, the American Dream means having the chance, through effort, to achieve 'success' and a comfortable life.