chase a dream

Meaning

This expression means to passionately pursue a major life goal, ambition, or aspiration, even if it is difficult or risky. It is often used in encouraging or reflective contexts when someone decides to follow their passion instead of taking a safe, conventional path.

Examples

• She decided to quit her corporate job to chase her dream of becoming a pastry chef.

  She decided to quit her corporate job to chase her dream of becoming a pastry chef.

• It takes a lot of courage to pack up your life and chase a dream in a new city.

  It takes a lot of courage to pack up your life and chase a dream in a new city.

• He spent his twenties chasing a dream of playing professional music, and it finally paid off.

  He spent his twenties chasing a dream of playing professional music, and it finally paid off.

• Don't let anyone convince you that you're too old to chase your dreams.

  Don't let anyone convince you that you're too old to chase your dreams.

• They are moving to New Zealand to chase their dream of living off the grid.

  They are moving to New Zealand to chase their dream of living off the grid.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He is running after a dream of becoming a writer.

  ✓ He is chasing a dream of becoming a writer.

  While 'run after' is a literal translation of chasing in some languages, the natural English collocation is 'chase a dream' or 'pursue a dream.'

• ✗ She wants to chase her dream for being an actress.

  ✓ She wants to chase her dream of being an actress.

  Use the preposition 'of' followed by a gerund (verb+ing) or a noun phrase to specify the nature of the dream.

Related Expressions

Practice

• After years of working in finance, he finally left to ___ of opening his own bakery.

  💡 Use a possessive pronoun like 'his' in the middle of the phrase.

  Show answer

  chase his dream

• Is it ever too late to ___?

  💡 The basic expression for pursuing a lifelong ambition.

  Show answer

  chase a dream