Physical Address
742 Evergreen Terrace, Springfield, IL 62704, USA
Idioms are fun phrases where the words together mean something totally different from what they say one by one. People use them to make talking and writing more colorful, exciting, and full of life. Today, you are going to learn a bunch of helpful idioms that all have to do with going to sleep or resting.
In this lesson, we’ll look at idioms for going to sleep that mean heading to bed and resting for the night. Let’s get started and explore some of these helpful expressions.
Idioms for Going To Sleep
1. Hit the hay
Meaning: To go to bed in order to sleep for the night.
For Example: After playing outside all day, I am ready to hit the hay. / Make sure to brush your teeth before you hit the hay.
Other Ways to Say: Go to sleep / Turn in
2. Hit the sack
Meaning: To go to your bedroom and get into bed to sleep.
For Example: It is getting late, so let us finish our homework and hit the sack. / He was so tired after soccer practice that he wanted to hit the sack early.
Other Ways to Say: Go to bed / Turn in
3. Catch some Zs
Meaning: To get some sleep and rest your eyes.
For Example: I need to catch some Zs before our big morning road trip. / Sleeping on the plane lets you catch some Zs during the flight.
Other Ways to Say: Get sleep / Rest up
4. Drift off to sleep
Meaning: To slowly and peacefully fall asleep.
For Example: Soft music playing in the bedroom helped her drift off to sleep. / Listening to a bedtime story makes it easy to drift off to sleep.
Other Ways to Say: Fall asleep / Nod off
5. Nod off
Meaning: To fall asleep quickly, usually while sitting up or reading.
For Example: Grandpa started to nod off while watching the evening television show. / Try not to nod off during the middle of your reading assignment.
Other Ways to Say: Doze off / Fall asleep
6. Sleep like a log
Meaning: To sleep very deeply and soundly without moving much.
For Example: After hiking all afternoon, the kids slept like a log all night. / The puppy curled up on the rug and slept like a log.
Other Ways to Say: Sleep soundly / Deep sleep
7. Hit the pillow
Meaning: To place your head on your bed pillow and fall asleep.
For Example: As soon as my head hit the pillow, I fell right asleep. / He was exhausted and ready to hit the pillow.
Other Ways to Say: Go to bed / Fall asleep
8. Tuck in
Meaning: To settle comfortably into bed under the covers to sleep.
For Example: Mom came upstairs to tuck me in and say goodnight. / The teddy bear was tucked in right beside her pillow.
Other Ways to Say: Put to bed / Settle in
9. Turn in
Meaning: To go to bed for the night.
For Example: It is past nine o’clock, so it is time to turn in. / The campers decided to turn in early after a long day of hiking.
Other Ways to Say: Go to bed / Retire
10. Out like a light
Meaning: Falling asleep instantly and deeply.
For Example: As soon as the lights went out, the tired baby was out like a light. / He climbed into bed and was out like a light within minutes.
Other Ways to Say: Fast asleep / Deeply sleeping
11. Sleep soundly
Meaning: To rest peacefully without waking up during the night.
For Example: Drinking warm milk helped her sleep soundly until morning. / A quiet room helps children sleep soundly through the dark.
Other Ways to Say: Rest peacefully / Sleep deep
12. Saw logs
Meaning: An old-fashioned expression for snoring loudly while sleeping deeply.
For Example: Uncle Bob fell asleep on the sofa and started sawing logs. / We could hear Grandpa sawing logs from down the hallway.
Other Ways to Say: Snore loudly / Sleep deeply
13. Sack out
Meaning: To go to bed and fall asleep quickly because you are tired.
For Example: The athletes wanted to sack out after winning the tournament. / I am going to sack out early tonight so I have energy tomorrow.
Other Ways to Say: Go to bed / Sleep
14. Hit the sack early
Meaning: To go to bed sooner than usual to get extra rest.
For Example: Since we have an early flight, let us hit the sack early tonight. / Getting sick means you should hit the sack early to recover.
Other Ways to Say: Sleep early / Rest up
15. Doze off
Meaning: To fall into a light sleep unintentionally.
For Example: The warm sunshine made the cat doze off on the porch. / I tried to finish the book, but I started to doze off.
Other Ways to Say: Nod off / Sleep lightly
16. Sleep a wink
Meaning: To get even a tiny bit of sleep, often used in the negative.
For Example: With the loud storm outside, I did not sleep a wink all night. / Worrying about the spelling test meant he didn’t sleep a wink.
Other Ways to Say: Rest at all / Close eyes
17. Beauty sleep
Meaning: Extra rest that helps you feel fresh and healthy in the morning.
For Example: Mom told me to get my beauty sleep before the school photo day. / Staying up too late means missing out on your beauty sleep.
Other Ways to Say: Extra rest / Nightly sleep
18. Hit the cot
Meaning: To lie down on a simple camp bed to go to sleep.
For Example: At summer camp, we were eager to hit the cot after evening games. / He grabbed his sleeping bag and hit the cot in the tent.
Other Ways to Say: Go to bed / Lie down
19. Head for dreamland
Meaning: To go to sleep and start dreaming.
For Example: Put on your pajamas and head for dreamland. / The lullaby helped the baby head for dreamland.
Other Ways to Say: Go to sleep / Sleep
20. Count sheep
Meaning: A mental trick of imagining sheep jumping a fence to help you fall asleep.
For Example: When I cannot sleep, I try to count sheep until my eyes feel heavy. / Counting sheep is a classic trick to cure late-night wakefulness.
Other Ways to Say: Fall asleep trick / Mind rest
21. Catch some shut-eye
Meaning: To close your eyes and get some much-needed sleep.
For Example: You look tired, so you should try to catch some shut-eye. / The driver pulled over to catch some shut-eye before continuing.
Other Ways to Say: Get sleep / Rest eyes
22. Hit the sheets
Meaning: To get into bed between the bedsheets for the night.
For Example: Freshly washed sheets make it wonderful to hit the sheets. / We are ready to hit the sheets after our long journey.
Other Ways to Say: Go to bed / Sleep
23. Sleep the clock around
Meaning: To sleep for twelve hours straight without waking up.
For Example: After the big soccer tournament, he slept the clock around. / The puppy was so tired it slept the clock around.
Other Ways to Say: Sleep long / Deep rest
24. Drop off
Meaning: To fall asleep gradually.
For Example: The soft hum of the fan helped me drop off quickly. / She managed to drop off to sleep despite the noise outside.
Other Ways to Say: Fall asleep / Drift off
25. Slumber peacefully
Meaning: To sleep in a calm and quiet manner.
For Example: The baby began to slumber peacefully in her crib. / We left the pets to slumber peacefully while we went to school.
Other Ways to Say: Sleep calmly / Rest quietly
26. Get some shut-eye
Meaning: To take a short nap or get nighttime sleep.
For Example: Make sure to get some shut-eye before your afternoon test. / He wanted to get some shut-eye before the evening party.
Other Ways to Say: Rest / Sleep
27. Hit the blanket
Meaning: To crawl under your blanket and go to sleep.
For Example: It is chilly tonight, so let us hit the blanket early. / The tired hikers were glad to hit the blanket.
Other Ways to Say: Go to bed / Sleep
28. Tuck into bed
Meaning: To get comfortable under the covers for a good night’s rest.
For Example: She loved to read a chapter book before being tucked into bed. / The children were washed and tucked into bed by eight.
Other Ways to Say: Put to bed / Cover up
29. Go night-night
Meaning: A playful, childlike way of saying it is time for sleep.
For Example: The toddler waved goodbye to his toys and said time to go night-night. / Mom whispered it is time to go night-night to the sleepy baby.
Other Ways to Say: Sleep time / Bedtime
30. Hit the mattress
Meaning: To fall down onto your bed to sleep after a long day.
For Example: I carried my heavy backpack upstairs and was ready to hit the mattress. / He couldn’t wait to hit the mattress after the football game.
Other Ways to Say: Go to bed / Sleep
31. Catch your forty winks
Meaning: To take a short nap or get a brief period of sleep.
For Example: Dad sat in the armchair to catch his forty winks after lunch. / Taking forty winks helps you feel fresh for the afternoon.
Other Ways to Say: Take a nap / Rest briefly
32. Hit the bunk
Meaning: To go to sleep on a narrow bed, often used in cabins or camps.
For Example: The sailors were told to hit the bunk as the ship settled down. / We grabbed our pillows to hit the bunk in the cabin.
Other Ways to Say: Go to bed / Sleep
33. Sleep tight
Meaning: A warm wish told to someone as they go to sleep.
For Example: Goodnight, sweet dreams, and sleep tight until morning. / Mom hugged me and whispered sleep tight before turning off the light.
Other Ways to Say: Sleep well / Rest well
34. Dream sweet dreams
Meaning: A friendly wish for pleasant thoughts while sleeping.
For Example: Close your eyes, dream sweet dreams, and wake up happy. / The bedtime story ended with a wish to dream sweet dreams.
Other Ways to Say: Have good dreams / Rest well
35. Fall into slumber
Meaning: To transition from being awake into sleeping.
For Example: The soft lullaby helped the baby fall into slumber. / Quiet surroundings make it easy to fall into slumber.
Other Ways to Say: Fall asleep / Drift off
36. Close your eyes
Meaning: A gentle instruction meaning it is time to sleep.
For Example: Close your eyes and think of happy places until morning. / It is time to close your eyes and rest your mind.
Other Ways to Say: Go to sleep / Rest
37. Rest your eyes
Meaning: To take a short break or sleep to relax your vision and body.
For Example: You read for hours, so you should rest your eyes now. / Closing the book allowed her to rest her eyes.
Other Ways to Say: Take a nap / Sleep
38. Off to bed
Meaning: A command or statement that sleep time has arrived.
For Example: The clock struck nine, so it was off to bed for everyone. / Brush your teeth and get off to bed right away.
Other Ways to Say: Go to sleep / Time for bed
39. Hit the feathers
Meaning: An old expression for getting into a feather-filled mattress to sleep.
For Example: The farm workers were ready to hit the feathers after harvesting. / It is time to hit the feathers and get some rest.
Other Ways to Say: Go to bed / Sleep
40. Sleep like a baby
Meaning: To sleep deeply, peacefully, and uninterrupted all night.
For Example: The quiet countryside helped him sleep like a baby. / She went right to bed and slept like a baby.
Other Ways to Say: Sleep soundly / Deep rest
41. Hit the cot early
Meaning: To retire to your bed before your usual bedtime.
For Example: We decided to hit the cot early because tomorrow is a big hike. / He felt a cold coming on, so he hit the cot early.
Other Ways to Say: Sleep early / Turn in
42. Go to land of nod
Meaning: A poetic way of saying you are falling asleep.
For Example: The sleepy puppy started to head off to the land of nod. / After reading two chapters, I drifted off to the land of nod.
Other Ways to Say: Fall asleep / Dreamland
43. Out cold
Meaning: Sleeping so deeply that you do not notice anything around you.
For Example: After the long race, the runner was lying on the couch out cold. / The tired toddler was out cold in the car seat.
Other Ways to Say: Deeply asleep / Unconscious of surroundings
44. Hit the sack for the night
Meaning: To finish evening activities and go to sleep.
For Example: We watched a movie and then decided to hit the sack for the night. / Turn off the lights and let us hit the sack for the night.
Other Ways to Say: Go to sleep / Turn in
45. Put your head down
Meaning: To lie down on a bed or desk to rest and sleep.
For Example: If you are tired, you can put your head down for a quick nap. / The student put his head down during quiet reading time.
Other Ways to Say: Lie down / Rest
46. Sleep the night away
Meaning: To spend the entire nighttime hours sleeping deeply.
For Example: Get into your pajamas and sleep the night away. / The cozy blankets made it easy to sleep the night away.
Other Ways to Say: Rest all night / Sleep soundly
47. Head to the bedroom
Meaning: To walk toward your sleeping quarters for bedtime.
For Example: It is nine o’clock, so please head to the bedroom. / After brushing our teeth, we head to the bedroom.
Other Ways to Say: Go upstairs / Bedtime
48. Hit the hammock
Meaning: To lie down in an outdoor hanging bed for a nap or sleep.
For Example: On a warm summer afternoon, it is wonderful to hit the hammock. / The camper stretched out to hit the hammock in the shade.
Other Ways to Say: Lie down / Rest outside
49. Knocked out
Meaning: Extremely tired and falling asleep instantly.
For Example: After running track all day, I was completely knocked out. / The puppy played with the ball until he was knocked out on the floor.
Other Ways to Say: Exhausted / Fast asleep
50. Dead to the world
Meaning: Sleeping so soundly that nothing can wake you up easily.
For Example: He was dead to the world and did not hear the morning alarm clock. / The tired hiker was dead to the world inside his sleeping bag.
Other Ways to Say: Fast asleep / Deep sleep
51. Hit the sleeping bag
Meaning: To crawl inside your sleeping bag for a night of camping rest.
For Example: Zip up your zipper and hit the sleeping bag under the stars. / The scouts were ready to hit the sleeping bag after stargazing.
Other Ways to Say: Go to bed / Camp sleep
52. Off to dreamland
Meaning: A sweet way of saying someone has gone to sleep.
For Example: The lullaby played softly while the baby went off to dreamland. / Close your eyes and be off to dreamland.
Other Ways to Say: Go to sleep / Sleep
53. Hitting the pillow hard
Meaning: Sleeping deeply and heavily after a tiring day.
For Example: We were hitting the pillow hard after walking ten miles. / He was hitting the pillow hard before the sun even rose.
Other Ways to Say: Deep sleep / Heavy rest
54. Sleep through the night
Meaning: To stay asleep from evening until morning without waking up.
For Example: Training puppies takes time before they learn to sleep through the night. / I feel great when I manage to sleep through the night.
Other Ways to Say: Uninterrupted sleep / Full rest
55. Hit the hay early
Meaning: To go to bed sooner than usual to catch up on rest.
For Example: We have an early test tomorrow, so let us hit the hay early. / She felt sleepy and decided to hit the hay early.
Other Ways to Say: Sleep early / Rest up
56. Rest your weary bones
Meaning: To lie down and let your tired body sleep.
For Example: After working in the garden, it is time to rest your weary bones. / Sit on the sofa and rest your weary bones.
Other Ways to Say: Relax / Go to sleep
57. Drift into slumber
Meaning: To glide gently from being awake into a peaceful sleep.
For Example: Dimming the room lights helped everyone drift into slumber. / She listened to the rain and began to drift into slumber.
Other Ways to Say: Fall asleep / Drift off
58. Catch some Zs tonight
Meaning: To get your required sleep during the nighttime hours.
For Example: Make sure you relax and catch some Zs tonight before the big game. / I am going home early to catch some Zs tonight.
Other Ways to Say: Get sleep / Rest up
59. Hit the sack for some rest
Meaning: To head to bed specifically to recover your energy.
For Example: I feel a bit worn out, so I will hit the sack for some rest. / Go brush your teeth and hit the sack for some rest.
Other Ways to Say: Go to bed / Sleep
60. Tuck yourself in
Meaning: To cover yourself with blankets and settle in for sleep.
For Example: Turn off your reading lamp and tuck yourself in. / The children hugged their parents before tucking themselves in.
Other Ways to Say: Get into bed / Settle down
Exercise to Practice
- After playing outside all day, I am ready to ________ the hay.
- It is getting late, so let us finish our homework and hit the ________.
- I need to catch some ________ before our big morning road trip.
- Soft music playing in the bedroom helped her ________ off to sleep.
- Grandpa started to ________ off while watching the evening television show.
- After hiking all afternoon, the kids slept like a ________ all night.
- Mom came upstairs to ________ me in and say goodnight.
- As soon as the lights went out, the tired baby was out like a ________.
- With the loud storm outside, I did not sleep a ________ all night.
- Mom told me to get my beauty ________ before the school photo day.
- When I cannot sleep, I try to ________ sheep until my eyes feel heavy.
- Goodnight, sweet dreams, and sleep ________ until morning.
- Close your eyes and think of happy places until ________.
- After running track all day, I was completely ________ out.
- He was dead to the ________ and did not hear the morning alarm clock.
Answer Key
- hit
- sack
- Zs
- drift
- nod
- log
- tuck
- light
- wink
- sleep
- count
- tight
- morning
- knocked
- world
Conclusion
Learning idioms about going to bed helps you understand stories, bedtime routines, and everyday conversations much better. When you know what these colorful phrases mean, you can use them to describe bedtime in a super fun way.
Try using a few of these expressions the next time you talk about getting ready for bed or waking up fresh. Practicing them out loud is a great way to remember them and make your communication sound awesome.
