Dreams of Being Bitten

Dreams of being bitten, whether by a dog, spider, shark, or even snake, serve as a warning related to aggression, hostility, or an unconscious attack.

These highly symbolic, yet mysterious dreams contain clues to help the dreamer identify whether this threatening strike originates from within themselves or from an antagonistic individual. The specific animal and the bite’s location act as a metaphor to guide the dreamer towards the actual threat in their life.

Bites in dreams are ominous signs that represent behavior intended to harm another person who does not wish to be harmed. These types of aggression can be cleverly disguised as reactive-inexpressive types (e.g., hostility from others) or proactive-relational aggression (i.e., aggression that can damage human relationships, for example, by spreading malicious rumors), or direct verbal or physical attacks.

To bite someone in your dreams signifies your own anger directed towards harming that person.

Bite Dream Meaning

From a psychological perspective, bites from various animals or reptiles suggest that you are the target of someone’s aggression. You might not be fully aware of the hidden behaviors these individuals possess, or unconscious aspects of your personality could be unwittingly provoking the attack.

Alternatively, these unprovoked attacks might remain outside the dreamer’s awareness, hidden in the unconscious. Your dream uses the image of the “bite” to indicate unconscious behaviors, traits, or instincts that are inherently attacking you.

People who are unaware of their own idiosyncrasies remain in the dark, repeatedly falling into patterns that always end up harming them. When we describe bites as enigmatic, consider the snake bite: it relates to an actual threat or connects to the primitive side—unconscious instincts, feminine energy, or shadow aspects that are not understood.

Furthermore, bite dreams become more complex depending on the dreamer’s sex. A female dreaming of a dog bite might relate to her animus (unconscious masculine side) or her best friend or companion. Generally, males dreaming of dog bites can view it as a form of both internal or external aggressive elements.

Bite Dreams: Locations Count

The location of the bite is a major clue that helps pinpoint the area (emotional or physical) under attack. Idioms like “once bitten, twice shy” or “he bites the hand that feeds him” can be symbolic in your dream.

• Hand: assistance, giving, offering – right hand (friend).
• Legs or Feet: personal progress, advancement.
• Face or Head: image, ego, psyche/mind.
• Chest: heart, emotions.
• Throat: communication.
• Back: unseen or unprovoked attack.
• Eyes: vision or foresight.

Bite dreams can represent situations that have been provoked or indicate an inevitable attack by someone. The bites can come from friends, relationships, co-workers, strangers, shadow, or unconscious aspects of yourself.

• Have you been emotionally hurt by someone?
• Are you involved in matters that pose a potential threat?
• Are you following your instincts?
• Is there a possible feminine threat?

Bite Dreams: Animal Bites

A dog bite connects to the dreamer’s instinctual side. These instincts, including denial, revenge, loyalty, greed, and the urge to procreate, could be threatening you. This might symbolize your own behaviors that are out of control.

Bites from cats, lions, or tigers bring you closer to the feminine. Opposite to the masculine, these patterns include gentleness, empathy, sensitivity, caring, sweetness, compassion, and intuition. These could represent the feminine inherited in men that is unrecognized or a dangerous female.

Snake bites are common and highly symbolic. They bring awareness to deceitful people in your life and serve as a bad omen when the snake is poisonous. This warns you to protect yourself from people, situations, or things that pose imminent danger. If the snake is black, it focuses on the shadow side of the dreamer—the unknown, repressed aspects.

Spider bites draw attention to the poisonous feminine attributes. If not caught in the web, the toxic bite reminds you to focus on the unconscious feminine upbringing—or the devouring mother. They could also symbolize malicious women or the distorted feminine complex within the masculine.

Scorpion bites have two different meanings. Scorpions can suggest rebirth, and the bite could symbolize death or transformation. It could also relate to the feminine (threat), an enemy, or traits you inherit that are unconscious.

A rat bite is a bad omen. Rats and mice represent negative situations, people, or manifestations that have been ignored. Being bitten shows that their effects have gotten close to you and will impact you.

Shark bites are common in underwater dreams. They bring focus to the unconscious or unknown emotional side of the dreamer. The cold, calculating behaviors of the shark are present at the moment in your life. These could be qualities you possess or people who pose a threat. Underwater creature bites, like crabs, whales, and dolphins, are symbolic.

Ant bites focus on hard work, teamwork, and cooperation that has been interfered with. It might also be a play on words as ‘aunt’.

Insect bites represent minor setbacks or minor annoyances in life.

Alligator or crocodile bites wait to pull you down to the swamp. They connect with water (emotions) that could be repressed or ruthless traits of others. Fears and danger lurk as these creatures see you before you see them, attacking quickly and giving little time to react.

Bird bites connect to personal freedom that might be provoked. Bat bites hint at the shadow, feminine, or intuition—like the vampire, the ability to drain your blood and energy. This calls for protection and grounding.

Human Bite Dream Meaning

Biting someone in your dream represents communication or verbal disputes leading to hurtful words. Being bitten is a metaphor for being hurt by what that person has said.

The person biting you could suggest who might be the root of the problem. People bite back when they have endured enough abuse.