A fairytale designed to make people conform, spend money they don't have on stuff they don't need , work for less pay, and think someday they can have everything they want.

Bait and switch
I thought my degree could help me get a job and i could live the American Dream. Now, no one will hire me and i owe $100,000.00 in student loans.
Fuck you! American Dream.
by Fffffcough February 4, 2014
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the ideal American life as fed by the media; 2.3 children, white picket fences surrounding a split-level house with a dog and a cat, and a station wagon or a minivan to take the kids to sports practice; impossible by its' nature
"The reason it's called the American Dream is you have to be asleep to believe it." -- George Carlin
by Shawn E. April 27, 2003
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An idea created by American society trying to make people believe anyone could be anything. Strange how all the US presidents have been in the upper 1% of society (in class-financial terms).
by Brendan September 19, 2003
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An image originally created in the late 1950's and 1960's. Innocent by nature but commonly deplored by those who cannot achieve it or don't agree with capitolism.

The stereotypical American Dream is to marry that perfect someone, move into the classical surburan house, with a front yard, a garage & drive way, a white picket fence. You have a dog, a cat, and several kids. On weekends and summers you barbeque in your yard while your kids play on a tire swing and build a tree fort. Sometimes the American Dream is associated with the Corvette which is commonly known as the American Dream Car, because of it's long legacy of American muscle and great performance.

These assests are ideally attained by working hard to someday become financially stable enough to afford simple luxuries without worrying about it. This does not mean that you become rich suddenly, or buy the fastest car upright, it means that as you work hard over time, you get more money and improve on what you already have. Such as moving into a larger home, buying a faster car, and being able to support an additional child.
My version of the American Dream is to become a civil engineer, marry my highschool sweat heart, buy a nice sized Spanish styled house in San Diego, CA and drive a new 2005 Mustang.
by Andrew Hernandez November 28, 2004
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Depending on the context, either a 60-month, low APR, zero money down delusion of upward mobility; or a television-induced, straight-line reduced, quick-fix diluted futility.
"Todd the textile worker had to trade in his American Dream for a cardboard box because his corporate-owned government sent his job to China."
by burmaslave January 6, 2004
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What a crock of bullshit! Basically it is either;

1) A clever lie designed by the rich to trick the poor into (a) working longer hours for less pay, and to (b) purchase a shitload of useless material goods and services, both of which help give the rich more wealth while further impoverishing the poor.

or

2) Taking over other nations by force, stealing their resources, and installing puppet governments that control the flow of resources to America while destroying the cultures and infrastructure of said conquered nations.
The American Dream is to work 60 hours a week for minimum wage, spiral downwards into debt as a result of being stupid enough to get credit cards and to spend what little money you have on shiny, expensive products that are useless in value and function.
by sarcastic April 2, 2004
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The idea, that some day, some how, you'll be happy. That your kids won't grow up to hate you and disrespect you. That some day you won't come home fried out from work, only to sit in front of the television, or open a bottle of JD, or rail a line of coke, or any other addiction common to American life. But the most important part to remember... dreams aren't real.
by Dylan Lamb December 18, 2003
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