As night falls, idioms for going to bed slip into our language like a soft blanket. You can hit the sack like a sailor after a long voyage, turn in like a lamp flickering out, or crash out like a wave on the shore.
These expressions hum with rhythm, glow with imagery, and make even bedtime feel like a small, beautiful story. With each phrase, sleep becomes more than rest — it becomes a moment you can almost touch.
Best Idioms for Going to Bed
1. Hit the hay
Meaning: To go to bed and sleep, like lying down on a pile of hay.
In a Sentence:
I’m exhausted—I’m going to hit the hay early tonight.
They hit the hay right after the long trip.
Other Ways to Say: Hit the sack. Turn in. Crash for the night.
2. Hit the sack
Meaning: To go to bed, often after a long day, like slipping into a sleeping bag.
In a Sentence:
After the party, I just wanted to hit the sack.
He hit the sack as soon as he got home.
Other Ways to Say: Hit the hay. Turn in. Go to bed.
3. Hit the rack
Meaning: To go to bed, commonly used in military or bunk bed settings.
In a Sentence:
The soldiers hit the rack after a long day of training.
I hit the rack early to be ready for the morning hike.
Other Ways to Say: Hit the hay. Crash for the night. Turn in.
4. In bed
Meaning: Already lying in bed, usually resting or preparing to sleep.
In a Sentence:
I’m already in bed watching a movie.
By 10 p.m., the kids were all in bed.
Other Ways to Say: Resting. Settled in. Tucked in.
5. Put to bed
Meaning: To help someone go to sleep or to finish a task before resting.
In a Sentence:
We put the baby to bed after reading a story.
Let’s put this project to bed and call it a night.
Other Ways to Say: Finish up. Wrap up. Send to bed.
6. Turn in
Meaning: To go to bed, usually signaling the end of the day.
In a Sentence:
I’m going to turn in early tonight.
They decided to turn it in after the movie ended.
Other Ways to Say: Hit the sack. Hit the hay. Call it a night.
7. Call it a night
Meaning: To end your activities and go to bed for the evening.
In a Sentence:
We decided to call it a night after the concert.
I’m tired, so I’m calling it a night.
Other Ways to Say: Wrap up. Turn in. Go to bed.
8. Get some shut-eye
Meaning: To get some sleep, often a short rest to recover.
In a Sentence:
I need to get some shut-eye before my morning meeting.
He got some shut-eye during the flight.
Other Ways to Say: Rest. Nap. Sleep.
9. Crash for the night
Meaning: To fall asleep quickly, often because you’re extremely tired.
In a Sentence:
After the road trip, we just crashed for the night.
She crashed for the night at her friend’s place.
Other Ways to Say: Hit the sack. Hit the hay. Pass out.
10. Hit the pillow
Meaning: To go to sleep, like placing your head on a pillow.
In a Sentence:
The moment he hit the pillow, he was asleep.
I can’t wait to hit the pillow tonight.
Other Ways to Say: Go to bed. Drift off. Fall asleep.
11. Sleep like a log
Meaning: To sleep very deeply and soundly, like an unmoving log.
In a Sentence:
After the hike, I slept like a log all night.
He always sleeps like a log on the weekends.
Other Ways to Say: Sleep like a baby. Sleep like a rock. Out like a light.
12. Sleep tight
Meaning: To sleep well, often used as a warm goodnight wish.
In a Sentence:
Goodnight! Sleep tight and sweet dreams.
Mom whispered, “Sleep tight,” as she tucked me in.
Other Ways to Say: Rest well. Sweet dreams. Have a good night.
13. To catch some z’s
Meaning: To get some sleep, referencing the “zzz” sound of snoring.
In a Sentence:
I need to catch some z’s before the early flight.
He’s catching some z’s on the couch right now.
Other Ways to Say: Take a nap. Get some shut-eye. Rest.
14. Sleep like a baby
Meaning: To sleep peacefully and deeply, like a newborn baby.
In a Sentence:
She slept like a baby after the long drive.
I sleep like a baby when it rains outside.
Other Ways to Say: Sleep soundly. Sleep like a log. Rest peacefully.
15. Out like a light
Meaning: To fall asleep immediately, as quickly as turning off a light.
In a Sentence:
As soon as he lay down, he was out like a light.
I was out like a light after a long day.
Other Ways to Say: Fall asleep fast. Pass out. Crash.
Related Post: 50 Clever Idioms for Lying in Conversation
16. Dead to the world
Meaning: To be in such a deep sleep that you’re unaware of anything happening around you.
In a Sentence:
She was dead to the world and didn’t hear the thunderstorm.
After the marathon, he was dead to the world.
Other Ways to Say: Sleep deeply. Out cold. Fast asleep.
17. Sleep like a rock
Meaning: To sleep deeply and solidly, like an unmovable rock.
In a Sentence:
He sleeps like a rock no matter where he is.
After the party, we all slept like rocks.
Other Ways to Say: Sleep like a log. Sleep deeply. Out like a light.
18. Drift off
Meaning: To slowly fall asleep, often without realizing it.
In a Sentence:
I drifted off while reading my book.
He drifted off during the movie.
Other Ways to Say: Nod off. Doze off. Fall asleep.
19. Snooze peacefully
Meaning: To sleep calmly and peacefully, often for a short time.
In a Sentence:
The cat was snoozing peacefully on the windowsill.
She snoozed peacefully on the couch all afternoon.
Other Ways to Say: Nap. Rest quietly. Sleep soundly.
20. Fall into a deep sleep
Meaning: To transition into a heavy, undisturbed sleep.
In a Sentence:
I fell into a deep sleep as soon as I hit the bed.
He fell into a deep sleep after his long shift.
Other Ways to Say: Sleep deeply. Be out cold. Rest completely.
21. Not sleep a wink
Meaning: To be unable to sleep at all, usually from worry or excitement.
In a Sentence:
I didn’t sleep a wink before my big presentation.
He didn’t sleep a wink worrying about the test.
Other Ways to Say: Stay awake all night. Get no sleep. Be restless.
22. Sleep with one eye open
Meaning: To sleep lightly and stay alert, as if only half-asleep.
In a Sentence:
He slept with one eye open while camping in the wild.
She sleeps with one eye open when the baby is sick.
Other Ways to Say: Stay on guard. Be watchful. Remain alert.
23. A light sleeper
Meaning: A person who wakes up easily from small noises.
In a Sentence:
She’s a light sleeper and wakes at every sound.
Being a light sleeper, he heard the door creak open.
Other Ways to Say: Wake easily. Sensitive sleeper. Alert sleeper.
24. Toss and turn
Meaning: To move around restlessly in bed without being able to sleep.
In a Sentence:
I tossed and turned all night before my job interview.
He tossed and turned worrying about the deadline.
Other Ways to Say: Struggle to sleep. Be restless. Fight sleep.
25. Burn the candle at both ends
Meaning: To work or party too much, leaving little time to rest, causing exhaustion.
In a Sentence:
She’s been burning the candle at both ends with work and study.
He burned the candle at both ends and finally collapsed from fatigue.
Other Ways to Say: Overwork. Exhaust yourself. Stretch too thin.
26. Lose sleepover
Meaning: To worry so much about something that it affects your ability to sleep.
In a Sentence:
Don’t lose sleep over the mistake—you’ll fix it tomorrow.
He’s losing sleep over the financial problems.
Other Ways to Say: Worry about. Be anxious. Be preoccupied.
27. Up all night
Meaning: To stay awake the entire night, usually because of stress or work.
In a Sentence:
She was up all night finishing the report.
He stayed up all night studying for the exam.
Other Ways to Say: Stay awake. Pull an all-nighter. Lose sleep.
28. Restless night
Meaning: A night of poor sleep, often waking up frequently or feeling unsettled.
In a Sentence:
I had a restless night before the trip.
He’s had restless nights since his back pain started.
Other Ways to Say: Toss and Turn. Uneasy sleep. Disturbed rest.
29. Sleepless night
Meaning: A night when you cannot sleep at all, often due to worry or discomfort.
In a Sentence:
She had a sleepless night before the surgery.
It was another sleepless night during the heatwave.
Other Ways to Say: No sleep. Up all night. I awake all night.
30. Fight to stay awake
Meaning: To struggle against sleepiness when you need to stay alert.
In a Sentence:
I fought to stay awake during the long meeting.
He was fighting to stay awake on his night shift.
Other Ways to Say: Struggle to stay awake. Resist sleep. Battle drowsiness.
31. Forty winks
Meaning: A short nap, usually during the day, to rest and recharge.
In a Sentence:
I grabbed forty winks during my lunch break.
She took forty winks on the sofa before dinner.
Other Ways to Say: Catnap. Quick nap. Short rest.
32. A catnap
Meaning: A brief, light nap, like a cat dozing off.
In a Sentence:
He enjoys a catnap in his chair every afternoon.
She took a catnap before heading out to the party.
Other Ways to Say: Power nap. Quick sleep. Doze.
33. Sleep in
Meaning: To stay in bed and sleep later than usual, often on weekends.
In a Sentence:
We love to sleep in on Sundays.
She slept in after her long flight.
Other Ways to Say: Rest late. Have a lie-in. Stay in bed.
34. Lie in
Meaning: To stay in bed longer after waking up, usually to relax.
In a Sentence:
I had a nice lie-in this morning.
He loves to lie in on holidays.
Other Ways to Say: Sleep in. Relax in bed. Stay cozy.
35. Take a nap
Meaning: To have a short sleep during the day to regain energy.
In a Sentence:
I took a nap before going to the gym.
She takes a nap every afternoon.
Other Ways to Say: Have a rest. Catch some z’s. Doze off.
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Cold That Add Icy Impact
36. Doze off
Meaning: To unintentionally fall asleep, often while sitting or resting.
In a Sentence:
He dozed off while watching TV.
She dozed off on the bus ride home.
Other Ways to Say: Nod off. Drift off. Snooze.
37. Catch a quick nap
Meaning: To take a very brief sleep to regain energy.
In a Sentence:
I caught a quick nap before the meeting.
She tries to catch a quick nap between shifts.
Other Ways to Say: Power nap. Catnap. Short sleep.
38. Power nap
Meaning: A short, intentional nap meant to boost energy and alertness.
In a Sentence:
He took a 20-minute power nap at work.
A quick power nap helps her stay focused.
Other Ways to Say: Quick nap. Recharge nap. Boost nap.
39. Nod off
Meaning: To briefly fall asleep, often when you didn’t plan to.
In a Sentence:
He nodded off during the movie.
She nodded off at her desk after lunch.
Other Ways to Say: Doze off. Drift off. Snooze.
40. Snooze for a bit
Meaning: To sleep lightly or briefly for relaxation.
In a Sentence:
I snoozed for a bit after lunch.
He likes to snooze for a bit before dinner.
Other Ways to Say: Take a nap. Rest. Catch some z’s.
41. Wrong side of the bed
Meaning: To wake up in a bad mood or feeling irritable.
In a Sentence:
He must have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed today.
She was grumpy all morning, clearly on the wrong side of the bed.
Other Ways to Say: Wake up cranky. Be moody. Start off grumpy.
42. Night owl
Meaning: A person who prefers staying up late and is most active at night.
In a Sentence:
I’m a night owl and do my best work after midnight.
She’s a real night owl, always up past 2 a.m.
Other Ways to Say: Late-night person. Evening person. Late riser.
43. Sleep in the buff
Meaning: To sleep without wearing clothes, feeling natural and free.
In a Sentence:
He always sleeps in the buff for comfort.
She feels most relaxed sleeping in the buff.
Other Ways to Say: Sleep naked. Sleep unclothed. Go natural.
44. Sleep over
Meaning: To stay overnight at someone’s home, usually for fun or social reasons.
In a Sentence:
The kids had a sleepover at their friend’s house.
She invited her friend to sleep over after the party.
Other Ways to Say: Stay the night. Overnight visit. Stay over.
45. To sleep rough
Meaning: To sleep outdoors or in uncomfortable conditions, often without shelter.
In a Sentence:
They had to sleep rough during the camping trip.
He’s been sleeping rough since losing his job.
Other Ways to Say: Sleep outside. Be without shelter. Sleep on the streets.
46. Count sheep
Meaning: To imagine counting sheep as a mental exercise to fall asleep.
In a Sentence:
I counted sheep to help myself fall asleep.
She was counting sheep all night but still couldn’t drift off.
Other Ways to Say: Relax to sleep. Calm the mind. Soothe yourself.
47. Let sleeping dogs lie
Meaning: To avoid bringing up old problems or disturbing a peaceful situation.
In a Sentence:
Don’t mention that argument—just let sleeping dogs lie.
He decided to let sleeping dogs lie and not bring up the past.
Other Ways to Say: Leave things alone. Don’t stir the pot. Avoid conflict.
48. Sleep like a top
Meaning: To sleep soundly and peacefully, like a spinning top standing still.
In a Sentence:
The baby slept like a top all night.
I slept like a top after the long hike.
Other Ways to Say: Sleep deeply. Sleep peacefully. Rest soundly.
49. Tuck in for the night
Meaning: To prepare for bed, often wrapping up warmly.
In a Sentence:
She tucked in for the night with a good book.
He tucked the kids in for the night with a bedtime story.
Other Ways to Say: Get Cozy. Settle in. Snuggle up.
50. Snug as a bug in a rug
Meaning: To feel very cozy, safe, and warm in bed.
In a Sentence:
The baby was snug as a bug in a rug in his blanket.
I love feeling snug as a bug in a rug on cold nights.
Other Ways to Say: Cozy. Wrapped up warmly. Comfortable.
Exercise to practice – Idioms for Going to Bed
- After the long hike, I was ready to __________.
- She __________ and didn’t wake up until noon.
- He couldn’t __________ because of the noisy neighbors.
- Let’s __________ and rest before tomorrow’s big event.
- The baby __________ and didn’t make a sound all night.
- I decided to __________ and grab a little rest in the afternoon.
- He __________ and fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.
- She __________ and stayed up all night watching movies.
- We all __________ after the party and slept late the next day.
- He had a __________ and feels refreshed now.
Answers
- hit the hay
- slept in
- sleep a wink
- turn in
- slept like a log
- take a nap
- crashed for the night
- pulled an all-nighter (or was up all night)
- slept in
- power nap
Conclusion
With idioms for going to bed, the end of the day becomes its own little adventure. You hit the hay like a cowboy after a long ride, tuck in like a letter sealed with care, or nod off like a candle flickering low. These phrases don’t just speak — they whisper, they sway, they soothe. They turn the simple act of sleep into a moment you can picture, a feeling you can almost hold in your hands.
Danny Weber is a language enthusiast and freelance writer with a passion for unpacking the beauty of idioms and metaphors. Through years of research and creative exploration, Danny helps readers understand the deeper meanings behind familiar phrases—making figurative language feel accessible, engaging, and alive. Whether he’s decoding classic sayings or crafting new twists on old expressions, Danny’s work invites you to see language with fresh eyes.
