Sometimes, people say funny or different things when they talk about sleep. Instead of saying, “I’m tired,” someone might say, “I’m hitting the hay.” These special phrases are called idioms. Idioms use words in a fun way that means something else. You may hear them at school, at home, or in cartoons.
In this article, we’ll look at sleeping idioms. We’ll also explain what they mean and how to use them. You’ll see short examples that make it easy to understand. Learning these phrases can help you enjoy reading and talking more. Let’s explore them together.
Idioms about Sleeping
1. Hit the hay
Meaning: Go to bed
To Provide an Example: I’m so tired. I’m going to hit the hay. / After brushing his teeth, Jake hit the hay.
Alternative Meaning: Time to rest for the night. / It means the day is done and it’s bedtime.
2. Hit the sack
Meaning: Go to sleep
To Provide an Example: Mom told me to hit the sack at 8 p.m. / After the movie, we hit the sack.
Alternative Meaning: It means to go to bed. / You are ready to sleep.
3. Catch some Z’s
Meaning: Take a nap or sleep
To Provide an Example: I need to catch some Z’s before dinner. / Dad caught some Z’s on the couch.
Alternative Meaning: Resting for a short time. / Getting some sleep.
4. Out like a light
Meaning: Fell asleep very fast
To Provide an Example: She was out like a light after her bath. / He lay down and was out like a light.
Alternative Meaning: Fell asleep right away. / No talking or moving after bedtime.
5. Sleep like a baby
Meaning: Sleep very well
To Provide an Example: I slept like a baby last night. / After the field trip, he slept like a baby.
Alternative Meaning: Had a peaceful sleep. / Didn’t wake up during the night.
6. Sleep in
Meaning: Wake up later than usual
To Provide an Example: On Saturdays, I sleep in. / We sleep in during school breaks.
Alternative Meaning: No alarm needed. / Extra sleep in the morning.
7. Forty winks
Meaning: A short nap
To Provide an Example: Grandma took forty winks after lunch. / He had forty winks before the game.
Alternative Meaning: A quick rest. / Just a little nap.
8. Snooze button
Meaning: More sleep time
To Provide an Example: I hit the snooze button three times. / Dad loves his snooze button.
Alternative Meaning: Wanting more sleep. / Delaying wake-up time.
9. Sawing logs
Meaning: Snoring loudly
To Provide an Example: My brother was sawing logs last night. / I heard Dad sawing logs in his room.
Alternative Meaning: Sleeping with loud snoring. / Deep sleep sounds.
10. Not sleep a wink
Meaning: Did not sleep at all
To Provide an Example: I didn’t sleep a wink before the test. / She didn’t sleep a wink on the plane.
Alternative Meaning: No rest during the night. / Stayed awake the whole time.
11. Tossing and turning
Meaning: Couldn’t fall asleep
To Provide an Example: I was tossing and turning all night. / He kept tossing and turning in bed.
Alternative Meaning: Trouble falling asleep. / Moving around in bed.
12. Sleep on it
Meaning: Think about it overnight
To Provide an Example: I’ll sleep on it before I choose. / Mom said to sleep on it before deciding.
Alternative Meaning: Decide later. / Wait until morning.
13. Catch up on sleep
Meaning: Rest after missing sleep
To Provide an Example: I’ll catch up on sleep this weekend. / She needs to catch up on sleep.
Alternative Meaning: Make up for lost sleep. / Rest more than usual.
14. Dream land
Meaning: A deep sleep
To Provide an Example: He’s off to dream land. / I was in dream land during the car ride.
Alternative Meaning: In a deep dream. / Peaceful sleep.
15. Bedhead
Meaning: Messy hair from sleeping
To Provide an Example: I had bedhead this morning. / Look at your bedhead!
Alternative Meaning: Hair is all over. / Hair is not neat after sleeping.
16. Sleepyhead
Meaning: Someone who is sleepy
To Provide an Example: Wake up, sleepyhead! / My cat is such a sleepyhead.
Alternative Meaning: A tired person. / Slow to wake up.
17. Dead to the world
Meaning: Sleeping very deeply
To Provide an Example: He was dead to the world last night. / She’s dead to the world right now.
Alternative Meaning: Very deep sleep. / Hard to wake up.
18. Bedtime story
Meaning: A story before sleep
To Provide an Example: Dad read me a bedtime story. / I love bedtime stories.
Alternative Meaning: A story to help you relax. / Helps you fall asleep.
19. Lights out
Meaning: Time to sleep
To Provide an Example: It’s lights out at 9. / Lights out means quiet time.
Alternative Meaning: Bedtime. / Turn off the lights to sleep.
20. Crash
Meaning: Fall asleep quickly
To Provide an Example: I crashed on the couch. / He crashed after soccer practice.
Alternative Meaning: Fell asleep fast. / Was very tired.
21. Shut-eye
Meaning: Sleep or rest
To Provide an Example: I need some shut-eye before school. / He got a little shut-eye after lunch.
Alternative Meaning: A bit of sleep. / Resting your eyes.
22. Night owl
Meaning: Someone who stays up late
To Provide an Example: My sister is a night owl. / Night owls don’t like early mornings.
Alternative Meaning: A person who likes to stay up. / Doesn’t sleep early.
23. Early bird
Meaning: Someone who wakes up early
To Provide an Example: Dad is an early bird. / Early birds eat breakfast first.
Alternative Meaning: Wakes up at sunrise. / Starts the day early.
24. Rise and shine
Meaning: Wake up and get ready
To Provide an Example: Mom said, “Rise and shine!” / I heard “Rise and shine” before school.
Alternative Meaning: Time to wake up. / Start the day.
25. Call it a night
Meaning: Stop and go to bed
To Provide an Example: Let’s call it a night. / We called it a night after dinner.
Alternative Meaning: Bedtime. / Time to stop and rest.
26. Knocked out
Meaning: Fell asleep fast or hard
To Provide an Example: He got knocked out after running. / I was knocked out by 9.
Alternative Meaning: Very sleepy. / Fell asleep quickly.
27. Sleep tight
Meaning: Sleep well
To Provide an Example: Good night, sleep tight. / Grandma said, “Sleep tight.”
Alternative Meaning: Rest peacefully. / Sleep without worry.
28. Bed of roses
Meaning: A very comfy or easy time
To Provide an Example: My nap felt like a bed of roses. / She said her sleep was a bed of roses.
Alternative Meaning: Very relaxing. / Nice and peaceful.
29. In dreamland
Meaning: In a deep sleep or daydream
To Provide an Example: He’s in dreamland right now. / I was in dreamland during math.
Alternative Meaning: Not paying attention. / Off in sleep or thoughts.
30. Catching dreams
Meaning: Sleeping or dreaming
To Provide an Example: The baby is catching dreams. / I saw the dog catching dreams.
Alternative Meaning: Deep sleep. / Dreaming peacefully.
31. Burn the midnight oil
Meaning: Stay up very late
To Provide an Example: I burned the midnight oil for my project. / He burns the midnight oil reading.
Alternative Meaning: Stays up working or reading. / Doesn’t sleep early.
32. Sleep like a log
Meaning: Sleep very deeply
To Provide an Example: I slept like a log last night. / She sleeps like a log every night.
Alternative Meaning: Doesn’t move while sleeping. / Very deep sleep.
33. Nod off
Meaning: Start to fall asleep
To Provide an Example: I nodded off in the car. / Dad nodded off during the movie.
Alternative Meaning: Slowly falling asleep. / Eyes start to close.
34. Sleepover
Meaning: Stay the night at a friend’s house
To Provide an Example: I had a sleepover at Jake’s house. / She packed for her sleepover.
Alternative Meaning: Night away from home. / Fun time with friends.
35. Midnight snack
Meaning: Food eaten late at night
To Provide an Example: We had a midnight snack after the movie. / My brother always wants a midnight snack.
Alternative Meaning: A little food before sleeping. / Eating during the night.
36. Rest your eyes
Meaning: Close your eyes for a little while
To Provide an Example: I’m just resting my eyes. / Grandma likes to rest her eyes in the chair.
Alternative Meaning: Take a short break. / Not full sleep.
37. Lay your head down
Meaning: Go to bed
To Provide an Example: I lay my head down at 9. / Time to lay your head down.
Alternative Meaning: Start resting. / Begin to sleep.
38. Pajama time
Meaning: Time to change and sleep
To Provide an Example: It’s pajama time! / Pajama time means bed is soon.
Alternative Meaning: Getting ready for bed. / Time to relax.
39. Time to hit the pillow
Meaning: Time to go to bed
To Provide an Example: It’s time to hit the pillow. / After the movie, I hit the pillow.
Alternative Meaning: Go to sleep. / Start resting now.
40. Sleep like a rock
Meaning: Very still and deep sleep
To Provide an Example: I sleep like a rock after gym class. / She was sleeping like a rock.
Alternative Meaning: Doesn’t move. / Deep, peaceful rest.
41. Doze off
Meaning: Fall asleep slowly
To Provide an Example: I dozed off during the car ride. / Grandpa dozed off in his chair.
Alternative Meaning: Slowly went to sleep. / Eyes closed without trying.
42. Sleeping beauty
Meaning: Someone sleeping peacefully
To Provide an Example: Look at her, she’s a sleeping beauty. / My baby brother is a sleeping beauty.
Alternative Meaning: Looks sweet while sleeping. / Calm and quiet sleeper.
43. Night-night
Meaning: A way to say goodnight
To Provide an Example: Time to say night-night! / She gave hugs and said night-night.
Alternative Meaning: It’s bedtime. / A sleepy goodbye.
44. Blanket hog
Meaning: Someone who takes all the blankets
To Provide an Example: My sister is a blanket hog. / Don’t be a blanket hog tonight!
Alternative Meaning: Uses more blanket than needed. / Doesn’t share during sleep.
45. Drift off
Meaning: Gently fall asleep
To Provide an Example: I drifted off while reading. / He drifted off under the stars.
Alternative Meaning: Slowly moved into sleep. / Peaceful way to sleep.
46. Counting sheep
Meaning: Try to fall asleep
To Provide an Example: I was counting sheep last night. / Try counting sheep if you can’t sleep.
Alternative Meaning: A way to get sleepy. / Helps when awake too long.
47. Midnight oil
Meaning: Staying up late working
To Provide an Example: She burned the midnight oil for homework. / He was using the midnight oil again.
Alternative Meaning: Didn’t go to sleep early. / Worked while others slept.
48. Bunk down
Meaning: Get ready to sleep
To Provide an Example: We bunked down in our tents. / Time to bunk down for the night.
Alternative Meaning: Find a place to sleep. / Get comfy and rest.
49. Shut the world out
Meaning: Sleep without noise or worry
To Provide an Example: I shut the world out last night. / She shut the world out with her blanket.
Alternative Meaning: No distractions during sleep. / Just peace and rest.
50. Sleepy time
Meaning: Time to go to sleep
To Provide an Example: It’s sleepy time, buddy. / We sang a song before sleepy time.
Alternative Meaning: Bedtime is here. / End of the day.
Trials for Success: Idioms about Sleeping
- After reading a book, I __________ and didn’t wake up until morning.
- On Saturdays, I like to __________ and eat breakfast late.
- When the power went out, Dad was already __________ on the couch.
- I couldn’t sleep at all. I didn’t __________ last night.
- Grandma took __________ after lunch and felt better.
- Before going to bed, my little brother always asks for a __________.
- On school nights, Mom says, “It’s time to __________.”
- I was so tired after soccer that I __________ right away.
- When I woke up, my hair was messy from __________.
- I like to say __________ to my dog before I turn off the lights.
- My sister is a __________ and never wants to sleep early.
- My blanket was gone because my brother was being a __________.
- I was bored in the car and started to __________.
- Mom said she will __________ the big decision before she tells me.
- Dad always says, “__________ and don’t let the bedbugs bite!”
Answer Key
- hit the hay
- sleep in
- out like a light
- sleep a wink
- forty winks
- bedtime story
- hit the sack
- crashed
- bedhead
- night-night
- night owl
- blanket hog
- doze off
- sleep on
- sleep tight
Conclusion
Sleeping idioms are fun and easy to learn. They help us talk about bedtime in a cool way.
Now you know many phrases people use when they talk about sleep. Try using them at home or school. It can make your writing and talking more interesting.
