Ever dream of falling or being chased but unable to move? A sleep expert reveals the hidden meanings behind the 10 most common dreams

We’ve all had that feeling: you wake up after a really vivid dream and think ‘how on earth do I unpack that?’. Most of us understand dreams are a good window into our subconscious, but given the busyness of everyday life, rarely take the time to delve into their meaning. Which is a shame, given they can give us insight into potential worries and stresses we can tackle proactively if we’re aware of them, leading to both more restful sleep and a more peaceful life.

So to help out, we’ve compiled a quick cheat sheet – with the help of dream expert and author Delphi Elli. She’s analysed a new Netflix study, revealing the ten most popular dreams among 2,000 adults, and helped unpack what each of them suggests is going on with your psyche. So next time you imagine your teeth are falling out, you’ll know what your brain is really mulling over.

Falling (53%)

Falling is the highest reported – and often most jarring – of dreams. According to Elli, it often speaks to a period of insecurity or uncertainty. Dreams of falling are ‘especially common after a life change,’ she says, ‘such as redundancy and retirement’. Moving house, a relationship ending, or performance anxiety before an interview or exam are also common triggers.

While it’s not a pleasant dream, there are positives that can be taken from it, Elli advises. ‘It suggests adventure awaits,’ she says, ‘but it’s scary venturing into the unknown.’ It’ll likely subside as any identifiable external pressures ease, whether that’s smashing your presentation or healing from a separation.

Unable to run while being pursued (42%)

Just under half of those surveyed reported having that dreadful dream we’ve all experienced: some being or force is chasing after us, but our legs are glued in place. Elli says this often reflects not wanting to ‘get caught’ in a situation or feeling ‘stuck’. You might subconsciously feel you’re progressing too slowly or not able to move forward in a waking life situation, be that failure to advance your career or delays in a house move.

It can also indicate you feel you need to ‘catch up’ with something: say after a period of holiday or sick leave from work. The dream might be a prompt to identify where you do feel stuck or feel a need to catch up, and devise new strategies to move forward.

Your partner cheating on you (22%)

Around a fifth of people said they’d dreamt of their partner cheating – but don’t worry, it’s very unlikely to be because they actually have! ‘Dreaming about infidelity often signals a fear that it could occur,’ Elli says, ‘rather than serving as a warning it already has.’

This is especially important to consider if you’ve experienced infidelity in the past. An awareness it’s on your mind can help you watch out for accusatory or suspicious behaviour in your waking life, and aid healthy conversations with your partner about insecurities.

Somebody dying (21%)

Another rather unpleasant subject, but a pertinent one, given around a fifth of those surveyed revealed they’d dreamed about someone they know dying. Elli says that ‘death in a dream is rarely about someone dying, and more often reflects a change we’re witnessing in someone.’

This is particularly the case for parents who dream about their children. ‘This often really reflects a shifting relationship as they grow up and become more independent,’ Elli advises. Dreams are a great insight into our waking fears, so if you’re worried about someone – a friend, partner or family member – changing, this can often manifest as them dying in your dream.

Your teeth falling out (21%)

We’ve all had it: you’re peacefully dreaming then notice your teeth are becoming really wobbly and start falling out. Don’t worry, it’s not necessarily an indication you need an urgent dental appointment, Elli says, ‘but a highly context dependent dream’ depending on your upbringing and culture.

‘In the West, we generally exchange our teeth for money when we are little,’ Elli says, ‘so in our adult dreams, they can symbolise concerns about your wealth or status.’ In other cultures, ‘dreaming of teeth falling out can represent loss, and anxiety about losing someone significant in your life.’

Getting together with a celebrity (20%)

A rather more pleasant dream, getting together with a celebrity is often a sign of respect and admiration, Elli advises. ‘If we relate to a particular celebrity’s struggle, admire them, or view them as a role model, we may dream about them as if they’re closer to us than they really are.’

Sitting an exam you haven’t revised for (19%)

This is a very common anxiety dream, and one that Elli says indicates a ‘general feeling of unpreparedness.’ For example, there might be a work meeting or presentation either coming up or that’s recently happened which you feel you weren’t ready for, and this can often manifest as an exam dream.

Flying/floating (18%)

Flying is one of the harder dreams to analyse, given a lot depends on how you were feeling during the experience. ‘If the dream was positive and you’re loving it,’ Elli says, ‘it might suggest you’re flying high and enjoying a period of success.’

However, if you’re feeling scared or worried during the dream, it can indicate you actually want to hunker down and deepen your roots. ‘Perhaps it’s a time in your life when you feel you should be more sensible,’ Elli advises, ‘and keep your feet planted firmly on the ground.’

Friends and family being mean to you (16%)

Because connection is essential for people, dreams where others act unkindly may suggest you feel removed or isolated from your community, Elli says. If people are being mean, it may be a prompt to reconsider who you include in your inner circle or how you allow them to treat you.

Being late for an important meeting (15%)

‘In today’s world, it’s natural to fear being late,’ Elli says, ‘so this may be a literal dream reflecting what we worry could happen.’ However, if someone feels like they’re always missing out, especially on important events or details, this can reflect frustration at being isolated or overlooked at work.