a real nightmare The situation with our neighbours is a real nightmare! the ultimate nightmare (=the worst possible situation ) The ultimate nightmare for any parent is to suffer the loss of a child.
a nightmare journey 3 BAD something terrible that you fear may happen in the future nightmare of the nightmare of a nuclear war nightmare scenario (=the worst or most frightening situation that you can imagine ) - nightmarish adjective COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: a very difficult, unpleasant, or frightening experience or situation adjectives an absolute/complete nightmare The whole day was an absolute nightmare. nightmare of (doing) something the nightmare of going through divorce It was every teacher’s worst nightmare (=the worst thing which could have happened ). nightmare for This has been an absolute nightmare for me and my family. a recurring nightmare (=one which you have again and again ) 2 EXPERIENCE a very difficult, unpleasant, or frightening experience or situation Traffic was a nightmare. From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English nightmare night‧mare / ˈnaɪtmeə $ -mer /