Learn English – “Keep dreaming” vs. “keep on dreaming”
meaningphrasal-verbs
Which is correct? Is there a difference in meaning?
Best Answer
Keep dreaming is a staid, somewhat dry phrase. It can be used in many contexts, formal and informal. In this usage, dream can have several meanings.
I am not finished with my REM tests; please keep dreaming.
Keep dreaming, and you will never face reality.
Keep on + ing verb = Keep continuing/trying to + verb.
Keep on dreaming = Keep continuing/trying to dream.
Dream here means hope. It does not refer to having dreams while asleep.
Keep on dreaming is an idiomatic usage, usually used in informal language. The on in the phrase provides the idiomatic/informal nuance of continuing to, usually indicating encouragement, much as it does in keep on trucking.
I feel like giving up on my lifelong dream, but my brother says I should keep on dreaming.
Note, Keep on dreaming and keep on trucking do not have the same meaning, but the on in both phrases serves the same function, namely to stress the aspect of continued trying or continued attempting to try.
We also have the phrase keep on keeping on, which is informal encouragement to continue battling through whatever obstacles one faces in life.
Life is so hard, but I have to keep on keeping on.
"Aloof" in this sense is now a literary word. I don't think many people would use it in ordinary conversation, except as an adjective meaning " Lacking affection or warmth of feeling, often in a manner suggesting a (disproportionate) sense of one's own superiority;" (from the OED)
Best Answer
Keep dreaming is a staid, somewhat dry phrase. It can be used in many contexts, formal and informal. In this usage, dream can have several meanings.
I am not finished with my REM tests; please keep dreaming.
Keep dreaming, and you will never face reality.
Keep on + ing verb = Keep continuing/trying to + verb.
Keep on dreaming = Keep continuing/trying to dream.
Dream here means hope. It does not refer to having dreams while asleep.
Keep on dreaming is an idiomatic usage, usually used in informal language. The on in the phrase provides the idiomatic/informal nuance of continuing to, usually indicating encouragement, much as it does in keep on trucking.
I feel like giving up on my lifelong dream, but my brother says I should keep on dreaming.
Note, Keep on dreaming and keep on trucking do not have the same meaning, but the on in both phrases serves the same function, namely to stress the aspect of continued trying or continued attempting to try.
We also have the phrase keep on keeping on, which is informal encouragement to continue battling through whatever obstacles one faces in life.
Life is so hard, but I have to keep on keeping on.