Easy-to-Use “Sleep” Idioms And Phrases

Idioms are one of the most fun parts of English and are probably a bit challenging to learn, as they have a figurative meaning. Learning idioms and understanding when and how to use them will help you improve your conversational English skills and sound more like a native speaker.

Some “sleep” phrases and idioms in the English language

Here, we’re going to go over some “sleep” idioms and phrases and their meanings in context.

1. To lose sleep over something or somebody

Meaning: to be worried about something or somebody so much that you’re not able to sleep.

Example:

Don’t lose any sleep over him. He knows what he’s doing. He’ll be fine.

2. To sleep it off

Meaning: this idiom refers to a situation when we try to sleep (more than normal) to avoid an undesirable situation or condition.

Example:

I try to sleep it off, but I can’t stop thinking about what happened.

3. To pull an all-nighter

Meaning: to stay awake during the night, doing something.

Example:

The deadline for the history assignment is tomorrow; I think I have to pull an all-nighter to finish it.

4. To sleep on something

Meaning: to hold making a decision for a day to get more time to think.

Example:

You don’t have to give me an answer right now. Sleep on it, and we’ll talk about it more tomorrow.

5. To sleep like a baby

Meaning: to sleep very deeply and peacefully.

Example:

Did you sleep comfortably last night?
Yes! I slept like a baby. I feel so energetic right now.

6. To be able to do something in one’s sleep

Meaning: when someone has done a task so frequently that now it’s too easy for them, we say they can do it in their sleep.

Example:

You think you can bake John’s birthday cake?
Oh, please! I’ve been baking my entire life. I can do it in my sleep.

7. To be sleeping on the job

Meaning: this idiom refers to a situation where someone is not paying any attention to their responsibilities.

Examples:

Why haven’t you finished your assignment? Were you sleeping on the job?

8. To hit the sack

Meaning: this is another way to say, “to go to sleep.”

Example:

I have to go to work tomorrow. So, I’m going to hit the sack.

9. To get up on the wrong side of the bed

Meaning: we use this idiom when someone is grumpy or in an unhappy mood.

Example:

What’s going on with Tom today? Did he get up on the wrong side of the bed or something?

10. To sleep in

Meaning: to intentionally or unintentionally sleep more than usual.

Example:

I usually sleep in on Sundays because I don’t have to go to work.

11. Sleep tight

Meaning: we use this phrase when we mean for someone to sleep well.

Example:

Goodnight honey, sleep tight.

12. To oversleep

Meaning: to unintentionally sleep more than usual.

Example:

I’m sorry, I overslept this morning and couldn’t make it to class.

*Did you notice the difference between “oversleeping” and “sleeping in”?

13. To put someone to sleep

Meaning 1: to give drugs to an animal to prepare them for a painless death.

Example:

My dog was suffering from stomach cancer, so I had to put him to sleep.

Meaning 2: you can use this idiom to describe falling asleep from boredom.

Example:

The speech was so tedious, it put me to sleep!

14. To not sleep a wink

Meaning: to not sleep at all.

Example:

I’m so excited for the trip. I couldn’t sleep a wink last night!

15. To be sleeping at the wheel

Meaning: we use this idiom when someone is not paying any attention to their responsibilities.

Example:

Hey, stop sleeping at the wheel and focus on your task!

16. To let sleeping dogs lie

Meaning: this idiom refers to a difficult situation when ignoring it causes fewer problems than interfering.

Example:

I wanted to bring up my concerns, but I thought it was better to let sleeping dogs lie.

17. To sleep like a top

Meaning: to sleep very peacefully.

Example:

I feel so good, I slept like a top last night.

18. Forty winks

Meaning: a very quick nap or a short sleep during the day.

Example:

He grabbed forty winks before leaving for the party.

19. To nod off

Meaning: this idiom refers to a situation where you fall asleep unintentionally.

Example:

He nodded off during the ceremony.

20. To sleep with one eye open

Meaning: sleep lightly to be aware of your surroundings.

Example:

I slept with one eye open last night because I was home alone.

Learning idioms will help you express your emotions and ideas more effectively and connect to other people more easily. By knowing idioms and the cultural meaning behind them, your conversations will flow naturally.