Idioms are like secret codes in the English language! They’re phrases that mean something different than what the words actually say. Instead of saying “I’m tired,” you might use an idiom like “I’m running on fumes.” Learning idioms can make English more fun and help you understand native speakers better.
Sleep is a super important part of life! So, it’s no surprise that there are many idioms about sleep. Learning these idioms will help you talk about how tired you are, how well you sleep, or even what it’s like to dream. Let’s dive into some common and interesting idioms all about sleep.
Idioms for Sleep
1. Hit the Hay
Meaning: To go to bed.
In a Sentence: I’m exhausted after that long hike, so I’m going to hit the hay early. / After the party, everyone was ready to hit the hay.
Other Ways to Say: Go to bed / Turn in for the night / Get some shut-eye
2. Catch Some Z’s
Meaning: To sleep; to get some rest.
In a Sentence: I need to catch some Z’s before the big game tomorrow. / He’s been working hard, he needs to catch some Z’s.
Other Ways to Say: Sleep / Rest / Get some sleep
3. Sleep Like a Log
Meaning: To sleep very soundly and deeply, without waking up easily.
In a Sentence: The baby slept like a log all night long. / After running the marathon, she slept like a log.
Other Ways to Say: Sleep soundly / Sleep heavily / Sleep like a rock
4. Lose (All) Sleep Over Something
Meaning: To be very worried or concerned about something.
In a Sentence: Don’t lose sleep over things you can’t control. / I’m not going to lose sleep over a bad grade.
Other Ways to Say: Worry about / Be anxious about / Dwell on
5. Beauty Sleep
Meaning: Sleep that is believed to make you look refreshed and healthy.
In a Sentence: I need to get my beauty sleep before the wedding. / She says eight hours of beauty sleep is essential.
Other Ways to Say: Restful sleep / Rejuvenating sleep / Good night’s sleep
6. Sleep on It
Meaning: To think about something before making a decision, usually overnight.
In a Sentence: That’s a big decision; why don’t you sleep on it? / I’ll sleep on it and give you my answer tomorrow.
Other Ways to Say: Consider it / Think it over / Mull it over
7. Not Sleep a Wink
Meaning: To not sleep at all.
In a Sentence: I didn’t sleep a wink last night because of the storm. / He didn’t sleep a wink worrying about the test.
Other Ways to Say: Get no sleep / Be sleepless / Have a restless night
8. Sawing Logs
Meaning: To make loud noises while sleeping (snoring).
In a Sentence: My roommate was sawing logs all night! / I could hear him sawing logs from the other room.
Other Ways to Say: Snoring loudly / Making a racket / Cutting wood (humorously)
9. Wake Up on the Wrong Side of the Bed
Meaning: To be in a bad mood when you wake up.
In a Sentence: Someone must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed this morning! / He’s been grumpy all day; he must have woken up on the wrong side of the bed.
Other Ways to Say: Be in a bad mood / Be grumpy / Feel out of sorts
10. Forty Winks
Meaning: A short nap.
In a Sentence: I’m just going to take forty winks. / He took forty winks after lunch.
Other Ways to Say: Nap / Short sleep / Doze
11. In Your Dreams!
Meaning: Used to tell someone that what they want is not going to happen. Also related to the concept of dreams.
In a Sentence: You think you’re going to win? In your dreams! / “Can I have a million dollars?” “In your dreams!”
Other Ways to Say: No way! / Never! / That’s impossible!
12. Dream On
Meaning: Similar to “In your dreams!” It expresses disbelief that something will happen.
In a Sentence: She thinks she’s going to become a famous singer. Dream on! / “I’m going to fly to the moon!” “Dream on!”
Other Ways to Say: Don’t be silly / That’s not likely / Get real
13. Land of Nod
Meaning: A humorous way to refer to sleep.
In a Sentence: He’s already in the land of Nod. / I’m off to the Land of Nod now.
Other Ways to Say: Sleep / Bedtime / Dreamland
14. Toss and Turn
Meaning: To move around restlessly in bed, unable to sleep.
In a Sentence: I was tossing and turning all night because I was worried about the exam. / She tossed and turned, unable to find a comfortable position.
Other Ways to Say: Restless sleep / Unable to sleep / Agitated sleep
15. Out Like a Light
Meaning: To fall asleep very quickly and easily.
In a Sentence: As soon as his head hit the pillow, he was out like a light. / After the long journey, she was out like a light.
Other Ways to Say: Quickly asleep / Deeply asleep / Fast asleep
16. Burn the Midnight Oil
Meaning: To work or study late into the night.
In a Sentence: I had to burn the midnight oil to finish the project on time. / The students were burning the midnight oil before the final exam.
Other Ways to Say: Work late / Study late / Stay up all night
17. On the Night Shift
Meaning: Working during the the nighttime.
In a Sentence: My brother is on the night shift this week. / A lot of hospital staff work the night shift.
Other Ways to Say: Night duty / Graveyard shift / Overnight work
18. To Be Caught Napping
Meaning: To be caught being unprepared or lazy.
In a Sentence: The security guard was caught napping on duty. / The company was caught napping when the new technology was released.
Other Ways to Say: To not be alert / To be inattentive / To be unprepared
19. Wake-Up Call
Meaning: An event that makes you realize you need to change something.
In a Sentence: His heart attack was a wake-up call to start eating healthier. / The failing grades were a wake-up call for him to study harder.
Other Ways to Say: Important realization / Warning sign / Moment of understanding.
20. To Sleep Through Something
Meaning: To sleep while something is happening, often unintentionally.
In a Sentence: I slept through my alarm this morning! / Did you sleep through the thunderstorm last night?
Other Ways to Say: Missed something due to sleep / Overslept / Unintentionally slept.
21. Don’t Give It A Second Thought
Meaning: Similar to “don’t lose sleep over it,” this means not to worry about something.
In a Sentence: It was just a small mistake, don’t give it a second thought. / The game is over; don’t give it a second thought.
Other Ways to Say: Don’t worry / Forget about it / It’s not important
22. Early to Bed, Early to Rise
Meaning: A proverb that means going to bed and waking up early is good for your health and success.
In a Sentence: My grandma always said, “Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.” / He lives by the motto: early to bed, early to rise.
Other Ways to Say: Get enough sleep and wake early. / Be disciplined with sleep.
23. Rise and Shine
Meaning: A phrase used to tell someone to wake up, usually cheerfully.
In a Sentence: Rise and shine, it’s time for school! / Rise and shine, sleepyhead!
Other Ways to Say: Wake up! / Get out of bed! / Good morning!
24. Sleepwalking
Meaning: To walk around while asleep.
In a Sentence: He used to go sleepwalking when he was a child. / My sister had an episode of sleepwalking last night.
Other Ways to Say: Somnambulism / Walking in your sleep
25. Counting Sheep
Meaning: A practice to help oneself fall asleep by mentally counting imaginary sheep jumping over a fence.
In a Sentence: I tried counting sheep, but it didn’t work. / He was counting sheep in his head to try and fall asleep.
Other Ways to Say: Trying to fall asleep / Using a boring mental exercise.
26. Cradle to Grave
Meaning: From birth to death; for the whole of one’s life. Often related to sleep (resting) in the grave.
In a Sentence: He lived in that same small town from cradle to grave. / She was a member of that church from cradle to grave.
Other Ways to Say: Lifelong / From birth until death / For one’s entire life
27. Cat Nap
Meaning: A short, light sleep.
In a Sentence: I need a quick cat nap before we go out. / She took a cat nap on the couch.
Other Ways to Say: Power nap / Short nap / Quick sleep
28. Sleep On The Job
Meaning: Sleeping during your work hours, a fireable offense in most jobs.
In a Sentence: The security guard got fired for sleeping on the job. / You can’t sleep on the job or you could get in trouble.
Other Ways to Say: Sleeping at work / Not paying attention / Being lazy
29. Under Wraps
Meaning: Kept secret or confidential, like something under blankets.
In a Sentence: The details of the new project are still under wraps. / The surprise party is being kept under wraps.
Other Ways to Say: Secret / Confidential / Hidden
30. Down for the Count
Meaning: Unable to continue, often referring to being defeated or asleep.
In a Sentence: After the long day, I was down for the count. / The boxer was down for the count in the final round.
Other Ways to Say: Defeated / Exhausted / Asleep
31. Wide Awake
Meaning: Fully alert and not sleeping.
In a Sentence: After drinking the coffee, I was wide awake. / She was wide awake at 3 AM.
Other Ways to Say: Alert / Awake / Fully conscious
32. Drowsy
Meaning: Sleepy and tired.
In a Sentence: The medicine made me feel drowsy. / I felt drowsy after the heavy meal.
Other Ways to Say: Sleepy / Tired / Lethargic
33. Bed Head
Meaning: A messy hairstyle after waking up.
In a Sentence: He had terrible bed head this morning. / She didn’t have time to fix her bed head before school.
Other Ways to Say: Messy hair / Disheveled hair / Unkempt hair
34. Sweet Dreams
Meaning: A wish for someone to have pleasant dreams while sleeping.
In a Sentence: Goodnight and sweet dreams! / I hope you have sweet dreams.
Other Ways to Say: Good night / Pleasant dreams / Sleep well
35. Get Some Rest
Meaning: A suggestion for someone to take time to relax and sleep.
In a Sentence: You look tired, you should get some rest. / After the long trip, I need to get some rest.
Other Ways to Say: Relax / Take a break / Sleep
Exercise to Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct idiom from the list above.
1. I didn’t __________ last night because of the noise.
2. After working all day, I’m ready to __________.
3. I’m so tired, I think I’ll just __________.
4. That’s a difficult decision, you should __________ before deciding.
5. I was so tired I was __________ on the bus.
6. Don’t __________ over things you can’t control.
7. He was __________ loudly all night.
8. The baby __________ all night after being given a warm bath.
9. I’m going to __________before the party tonight.
10. My roommate __________ this morning.
11. I set two alarms because I have to be __________ to make sure I don’t miss my flight.
12. If you think I’m going to pay for that, __________.
Answer Key
1. Not sleep a wink
2. Hit the hay
3. Catch some Z’s
4. Sleep on it
5. Sleeping on the job
6. Lose sleep
7. Sawing logs
8. Slept like a log
9. Get my beauty sleep
10. Woke up on the wrong side of the bed
11. Wide Awake
12. In your dreams
Conclusion
Learning idioms can be a challenging but rewarding experience. Hopefully, these 35 idioms about sleep will improve your English and help you understand native speakers more easily. These expressions are more than just words; they’re a window into the culture and humor of the English language.
So, the next time you’re talking about feeling tired, dreaming, or just needing some rest, remember these idioms. Knowing and using idioms will make your English sound more natural and expressive. Happy learning, and sweet dreams!
