“NIGHTMARE DRESSED LIKE A DAYDREAM”

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It is a typical British idiom that literally can describe something that seems very
pleasant or attractive at first, but turns out to be horrible in the end. It usually
also refers to people who are initially leal at first sight but who then, with the
succession of events, manifest themselves in a completely different way from how
they appeared at the beginning. In fact, appearances can very often be
deceiving.
 Example sentence:
Don't be fooled by her kindness. It's just a nightmare dressed up as a
daydream, actually is very self-centered and abusive.
 Origin
The origin of the idiom “nightmare dressed like a daydream” or “daydream
dressed like a nightmare” is thought to be Irish and Scottish folklore. In both
cultures, it was believed that there were two distinct creatures; one that would
appear as an attractive woman during the day and at night turn into a scary
monster.

The phrase suddenly got huge popularity when it appeared in a song “Blank
Space” by American singer Taylor Swift, released on November 10, 2014, to US
radio stations as the second single from her fifth studio album, “1989”.
In this song, Taylor Swift describes herself as a “nightmare dressed like a
daydream” because the press, based on the singer's private life, creates the
character of a unemotionally and relationally unstable girlfriend which in the end
she stay with a broken heart and alone. The singer was inspired by this crazy,
possessive, diabolical and lying character, which the press has created of her,
who writes songs to take revenge of men.
Here is the snippet of “Blank Space” lyrics where the idiom is being used:
“Screaming, crying, perfect storms
I can make all the tables turn
Rose garden filled with thorns
Keep you second guessing like
“Oh, my God, who is she?”
I get drunk on jealousy
But you’ll come back each time you leave
‘Cause, darling, I’m a nightmare dressed like a daydream.”