Question I'm dreaming of/about working abroad.

hirashin

Sempai

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8 Apr 2004

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• 5 Dec 2018

• #1

Dear native English speakers,
is there a difference in meaning between (a) and (b)?
(a) I'm dreaming of working abroad.
(b) I'm dreaming about working abroad.

Hirashin

 

Buntaro

運動不足

Twenty-year veteran

27 Dec 2003

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• 5 Dec 2018

• #2

hirashin said:

is there a difference in meaning between (a) and (b)?

Click to expand...

They are the same.

 

hirashin

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8 Apr 2004

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• 5 Dec 2018

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• #3

Thanks for the help, Buntaro.

 

M

Michael2

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4 Jan 2018

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• 6 Dec 2018

• #4

I would say they are a bit different. "Dreaming of" sounds like something in the future whereas "dreaming about" sounds like what you are literally dreaming about now, like "I'm talking about ....." There is some overlap and people are not always that fussy but I would definitely use "dreaming of" in this case. Like the song goes "I'm dreaming OF a White Christmas..."

 

mdchachi

Moderator

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6 Mar 2003

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• 7 Dec 2018

• #5

Basically the same. Although I agree with Michael2 that there is a slight difference in nuance.

 

hirashin

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8 Apr 2004

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• 7 Dec 2018

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• #6

Thanks for the help, Michael2 and mdchachi.