What does "Tell him he's dreaming" mean?
It means an idea, price or offer is so unrealistic that it will never happen.
Hear an Aussie say it
The saying
Tell him he's dreaming
Example
Bruce reckons he's going to sell his house for a million bucks. Tell him he's dreaming!
(Reckons means thinks, and bucks means dollars.)
How Aussies use it
Shopping online
Zoe: This old bike is listed for two thousand dollars.
Josh: Two grand? Tell him he's dreaming.
Two grand means two thousand dollars.
At work
Hana: The client wants the whole website finished by Friday.
Omar: Tell them they're dreaming. That's a month of work.
Change the words to fit the person: tell her she's dreaming, tell them they're dreaming.
Looking for a rental
Mia: The landlord wants another two hundred a week.
Ben: Tell him he's dreamin'.
People often say dreamin', the way it is said in the film.
How to reply
- "Ha, that's what I said!" Agree and laugh along.
- "I know, right?" A quick way to agree.
When to use it
Use it with a laugh when a price, offer or plan is way off. It is playful and very Australian, and it is a nod to the film The Castle.
When not to use it
Don't use it to refuse a real offer at work or in a formal message. Say "that isn't realistic for us" or "we can't agree to that".
Where it comes from
It is a famous line from The Castle, a 1997 Australian comedy film. Writing in The Conversation, media lecturer Daryl Sparkes lists "Tell him he's dreamin'" among the lines from the film that have become everyday Aussie sayings.
Questions about "Tell him he's dreaming"
Where does tell him he's dreaming come from?
It is a famous line from The Castle, a 1997 Australian film. Australians quote it when a price or idea is way too much.
Is tell him he's dreaming rude?
No. It is cheeky (a bit rude, but playful), but people usually say it about someone, not to them, and with a laugh.
Can you say tell her she's dreaming?
Yes. Change him to her or them to fit the person. The meaning stays the same.
