[General] REM circle

[thedaffodils]

Context:

A woman was sleeping, but two girls sit beside her talking cheerfully. She woke up and said 'I'm in the middle of a REM circle over here'.

Question:

Does anyone know what 'rem circle' refer to? Thanks!

[Raymott]

Originally Posted by thedaffodils

Context:

A woman was sleeping, but two girls sit beside her talking cheerfully. She woke up and said 'I'm in the middle of a REM circle over here'.

Question:

Does anyone know what 'rem circle' refer to? Thanks!

Yes it means she was dreaming. REM stands for "Rapid Eye Movements". which are a sign of dreaming.
It is thought that when cats twitch and have REM episodes in their sleep that they are dreaming too, but of course this can't be confirmed yet.
It should be "REM cycle" not circle. A person has about half a dozen or so cycles throughout a night's sleep.

[susiedqq]

In other words, she was telling the girls that their chatting disrupted her sleep (and maybe a great dream, too!)

[thedaffodils]

Raymott & Susiedqq:

Thank you for your help. Could any of you please answer the questions that follow for me?

1. Do most native speakers know this phrase? I heard it from an American film.

2. I suppose the phrase is used in an angry or humourous mood. Am I right?

3. Is it safe for anyone to say it? If I use it, I wouldn't sound like a weirdo, would I? If any negative side or taboo in it, please let me know.

Thanks!

[Raymott]

Originally Posted by thedaffodils

Raymott & Susiedqq:

Thank you for your help. Could any of you please answer the questions that follow for me?

1. Do most native speakers know this phrase? I heard it from an American film.
Some adults would have heard of REM sleep. I'd say not the majority.
There are no idioms about it that I know of.

2. I suppose the phrase is used in an angry or humourous mood. Am I right?
If you mean the phrase the woman said, I've never heard it.
Where did you get the example from?

3. Is it safe for anyone to say it? If I use it, I wouldn't sound like a weirdo, would I? If any negative side or taboo in it, please let me know.
Yes, you'd sound like a weirdo, as the woman in your example does.
There's no taboo about REM sleep.

Thanks!

R

[Cypriot]

Here is my opinion:

1 - Even if most people never heard of that phrase before, chances are, they will "get it."

2 - Subject might be annoyed, but the audience will find it humorous.

3- It's safe.

[thedaffodils]

Hi Raymott,

Thank you for your help. I got it from the American film--Miss Congeniality.

[thedaffodils]

Originally Posted by Cypriot

Here is my opinion:

1 - Even if most people never heard of that phrase before, chances are, they will "get it."

2 - Subject might be annoyed, but the audience will find it humorous.

3- It's safe.

Hi Cypriot,

Thank you for your input.

If many people say that, I will follow suit in such a case; if no, I I won't try to remember a phrase-- just a few native speakers say it or people will get it. This is why I asked.

[Raymott]

Originally Posted by thedaffodils

Hi Raymott,

Thank you for your help. I got it from the American film--Miss Congeniality.

Ah, then you'd understand that it's completely contrived, and that no one wakes up with that sort of line ready to deliver.