From flying through the sky to losing your teeth, the dreams we have at night can reveal so much about what’s really on our minds — and studies have shown that women are significantly more likely to remember the content of their dreams than men are. But what do dreams mean and what insight do they offer?


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New data from MattressOnline has uncovered the most common dreams in the UK and what they signify, offering fascinating insights into the emotions, worries, and desires that shape our lives. Whether it’s stress, empowerment, or personal growth, your dreams might just hold the answers you’re looking for! 

Most common dreams

RankDreamAverage annual searches
1Teeth falling out378,360
2Snakes67,080
3Pregnancy54,960
4Dying40,560
5Drowning38,640
6Being chased31,560
7Plane crash30,000
8Hair falling out29,640
9Flying25,080
10Falling22,920
11Zombies13,080
12Car crash10,560
13Birds7,320
14Old friend6,360
15Winning the lottery6,120

1. Dream about teeth falling out

MattressOnline can reveal that the most common dream is your teeth falling out. With over five times more searches for explanations than any other dream, it is clear that this nightmare is a common one. But what does it mean?

Losing teeth in a dream could be a visual manifestation of a personal loss we are experiencing in real life, whether that be losing an opportunity, a relationship, or a loved one. 

Another theory points towards a more physical cause rather than a mental or emotional one; the physical sensation of grinding your teeth or clenching your jaw at night could possibly lead to dreaming about your teeth falling out.

2 . Dreams of snakes

The second most common dream, with 67,080 related searches per year according to the study, is dreams – or nightmares – about snakes

Common snake dreams vary from seeing the animal shedding its skin, which could relate to transformation and rebirth in our lives, to dreams about snake attacks, which could represent a threat or toxic presence in your life.

3. Dream about pregnancy

Dreams about pregnancy and being pregnant are the third most common. Following closely behind snake dreams, there are an average of 54,960 searches every year relating to pregnancy dreams and what they symbolize.

It is quite common for your pregnancy to appear in your dreams if you are carrying a child in real life, but pregnancies can also often appear in the dreams of those who are not expecting. This could signify a desire for new beginnings and growth, or alternatively may reflect you are carrying additional stress and anxieties about changes in your life.

4. Dreams of dying

According to the study, the fourth most common topic for dreams and nightmares is dying, with 40,560 searches each year about this dream and what it symbolized.

These dreams could be a reflection of dealing with death in some capacity in real life, perhaps grieving a loved one or confronting health issues. However, it could also have a more metaphorical and spiritual impact, such as reflecting fears of something ending, or anxieties about life transitions.

5. Dream about drowning

Dreams and nightmares about drowning are the fifth most common, according to the study, with an average 38,640 searches relating to this topic each year.

Drowning in your dream may reflect an emotional stress you are experiencing in real life, such as feeling overwhelmed or like you are losing control. It could also represent emotions and feelings that you are suppressing and bottling up.