When it comes to rest, idioms for sleep bring the quiet world of dreams to life. These expressions paint soft pictures—of nodding off, tossing and turning, or sinking into deep slumber. Each phrase is simple yet rich with meaning, making it easy to describe your tired moments with charm.
Let’s explore the cozy language of sleep and add new colors to your words.
Best Idioms for Sleep
1. Sleep like a log
Meaning: Sleep very deeply and without interruption.
In a Sentence:
After the long hike, I slept like a log all night.
He always sleeps like a log no matter the noise.
Other Ways to Say: Sleep soundly. Be dead to the world. Sleep like a rock.
2. Sleep like a baby
Meaning: Sleep peacefully and comfortably, just like a newborn.
In a Sentence:
She slept like a baby after the spa day.
The new mattress made me sleep like a baby.
Other Ways to Say: Sleep soundly. Sleep tight. Rest well.
3. Out like a light
Meaning: Fall asleep immediately and deeply.
In a Sentence:
As soon as his head hit the pillow, he was out like a light.
After the party, we were out like a light.
Other Ways to Say: Drop off instantly. Go out like a candle. Crash out.
4. Sleep tight
Meaning: A warm wish for a restful and undisturbed sleep.
In a Sentence:
Good night, sleep tight!
She whispered “Sleep tight” before leaving the room.
Other Ways to Say: Rest well. Sweet dreams. Have a peaceful night.
5. Dead to the world
Meaning: Be in a very deep sleep, completely unaware of your surroundings.
In a Sentence:
He was dead to the world after the trip.
The kids were dead to the world by 9 PM.
Other Ways to Say: Out cold. Sleeping deeply. Knocked out.
6. Sleep soundly
Meaning: Sleep well without disturbance.
In a Sentence:
We all slept soundly in the quiet cabin.
She finally slept soundly after a stressful week.
Other Ways to Say: Rest peacefully. Sleep deeply. Sleep tight.
7. In the arms of Morpheus
Meaning: Sleep deeply, as if embraced by the god of dreams.
In a Sentence:
By midnight, she was in the arms of Morpheus.
He drifted into the arms of Morpheus after reading.
Other Ways to Say: Lost in Dreams. Deep asleep. Enveloped in sleep.
8. Sleep the sleep of the just
Meaning: Sleep well and peacefully, with a clear conscience.
In a Sentence:
After helping the family, he slept the sleep of the just.
She always sleeps the sleep of the just after a good day.
Other Ways to Say: Rest easy. Sleep peacefully. Sleep with a clear mind.
9. Go out like a candle
Meaning: Fall asleep very quickly, as if suddenly extinguished.
In a Sentence:
He went out like a candle after the long shift.
We went out like candles after the wedding.
Other Ways to Say: Out like a light. Drop off fast. Crash out.
10. Sleep like a rock
Meaning: Sleep extremely deeply, unaffected by surroundings.
In a Sentence:
She sleeps like a rock every night.
I was so tired, I slept like a rock until noon.
Other Ways to Say: Sleep like a log. Dead to the world. Out cold.
11. Not sleep a wink
Meaning: Be unable to sleep at all, often due to stress or worry.
In a Sentence:
She was so anxious she didn’t sleep a wink.
I didn’t sleep a wink before the big exam.
Other Ways to Say: Stay awake all night. Be sleepless. Toss and turn.
12. Barely keep my eyes open
Meaning: Feel extremely tired and struggle to stay awake.
In a Sentence:
After the long day, I could barely keep my eyes open.
He was so exhausted he could hardly keep his eyes open.
Other Ways to Say: Dead tired. Nodding off. Ready to crash.
13. Nod
Meaning: Fall into light sleep or doze off, often briefly.
In a Sentence:
He kept nodding during the lecture.
She nodded off on the bus ride home.
Other Ways to Say: Doze. Drift off. Snooze.
14. Burn the candle at both ends
Meaning: Stay up late and get up early, overworking and exhausting yourself.
In a Sentence:
She’s burning the candle at both ends with work and school.
I’ve been burning the candle at both ends this week.
Other Ways to Say: Overwork. Exhaust yourself. Run yourself ragged.
15. Toss and turn
Meaning: Struggle to fall asleep, moving around restlessly in bed.
In a Sentence:
I tossed and turned all night before the interview.
He was tossing and turning because of the heat.
Other Ways to Say: Restless. Can’t settle. Lie awake.
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Cold That Add Icy Impact
16. Count sheep
Meaning: Mentally count sheep to try and fall asleep when struggling.
In a Sentence:
She lay in bed counting sheep for hours.
I was so awake, that even counting sheep didn’t help.
Other Ways to Say: Try to sleep. Calm the mind. Use sleep tricks.
17. Lose sleep over something
Meaning: Worry so much about something that it causes sleeplessness.
In a Sentence:
Don’t lose sleep over the small stuff.
He’s losing sleep over his financial troubles.
Other Ways to Say: Worry too much. Stress out. Be anxious.
18. Not lose any sleep over it
Meaning: Not worry at all about a problem; stay relaxed.
In a Sentence:
She didn’t lose any sleep over the criticism.
I won’t lose any sleep over their decision.
Other Ways to Say: Stay calm. Be unbothered. Brush it off.
19. Run on fumes
Meaning: Continue working or staying awake despite extreme exhaustion.
In a Sentence:
I was running on fumes by the end of the day.
They ran on fumes to finish the project.
Other Ways to Say: Push through tiredness. Be drained. Barely functioning.
20. Eyes like saucers
Meaning: Have wide, tired eyes from lack of sleep or surprise.
In a Sentence:
After the night shift, he had eyes like saucers.
She looked at me with eyes like saucers after the news.
Other Ways to Say: Wide-eyed. Tired eyes. Shocked look.
21. Sleep in
Meaning: Sleep later than usual, often to rest or relax.
In a Sentence:
I love to sleep in on weekends.
She slept in after a late-night party.
Other Ways to Say: Lie in. Have a lazy morning. Catch up on sleep.
22. Hit the hay
Meaning: Go to bed to sleep, often used informally.
In a Sentence:
I’m exhausted—time to hit the hay.
They hit the hay early after the road trip.
Other Ways to Say: Hit the sack. Go to bed. Turn in.
23. Hit the sack
Meaning: Go to sleep or go to bed.
In a Sentence:
I need to hit the sack soon; it’s late.
We hit the sack right after dinner.
Other Ways to Say: Turn in. Hit the hay. Crash out.
24. Lie in
Meaning: Stay in bed longer after waking up, usually to relax.
In a Sentence:
She enjoys lying in on Sundays.
We lay in until 10 AM on holiday.
Other Ways to Say: Sleep in. Rest in bed. Take it slow.
25. Catching some Z’s
Meaning: Take a nap or sleep, often said playfully.
In a Sentence:
He was catching some Z’s between meetings.
I need to catch some Z’s before the next shift.
Other Ways to Say: Nap. Snooze. Rest up.
26. Fall asleep
Meaning: Drift into sleep naturally.
In a Sentence:
I fell asleep while watching TV.
She fell asleep during the movie.
Other Ways to Say: Nod off. Drift off. Doze off.
27. Sleep over
Meaning: Stay overnight at someone else’s home.
In a Sentence:
We let the kids sleep over at their cousin’s house.
I’m sleeping over at a friend’s tonight.
Other Ways to Say: Stay Overnight. Overnight visit. Crash at someone’s place.
28. Sleep in the buff
Meaning: Sleep without wearing any clothes.
In a Sentence:
He prefers to sleep in the buff during summer.
She admitted she sleeps in the buff for comfort.
Other Ways to Say: Sleep naked. Bare sleeping. Natural sleeping.
29. Sleep rough
Meaning: Sleep outdoors or in difficult conditions, often without shelter.
In a Sentence:
Many travelers had to sleep rough when the hostel was full.
They slept rough during their camping trip.
Other Ways to Say: Camp out. Sleep outside. Unprotected sleep.
30. Go to bed with the chickens
Meaning: Go to bed very early, like chickens do at sunset.
In a Sentence:
My grandparents always go to bed with the chickens.
We went to bed with the chickens after the long hike.
Other Ways to Say: Sleep early. Turn in early. Call it a night.
31. Forty winks
Meaning: A short nap to regain energy.
In a Sentence:
I grabbed forty winks during my lunch break.
She took forty winks before heading out again.
Other Ways to Say: Power nap. Quick rest. Catnap.
32. A catnap
Meaning: A brief, light sleep taken during the day.
In a Sentence:
He squeezed in a catnap between meetings.
She loves taking a catnap in the afternoon.
Other Ways to Say: Short nap. Power nap. Snooze.
33. Snooze
Meaning: A light, short sleep.
In a Sentence:
I had a quick snooze before dinner.
He snoozed on the couch all afternoon.
Other Ways to Say: Nap. Doze. Catch some Z’s.
34. Take a nap
Meaning: Sleep for a short time, usually to rest during the day.
In a Sentence:
She took a nap after lunch.
I always take a nap on Sundays.
Other Ways to Say: Have a rest. Snooze. Catch a quick sleep.
35. Catch a quick nap
Meaning: Grab a short sleep to regain energy in a limited time.
In a Sentence:
I caught a quick nap before my shift.
He tries to catch a quick nap during breaks.
Other Ways to Say: Power nap. Short nap. Quick snooze.
Related Post: 50 Idioms for Light That Express Hope and Joy
36. Power nap
Meaning: A short, focused nap that boosts energy and productivity.
In a Sentence:
A 20-minute power nap helped me feel refreshed.
She takes power naps to stay sharp.
Other Ways to Say: Quick nap. Energy boost. Refresh nap.
37. Doze off
Meaning: Fall asleep lightly, often unintentionally.
In a Sentence:
I dozed off while reading.
He kept dozing off during the lecture.
Other Ways to Say: Nod off. Drift off. Snooze.
38. Grab some shut-eye
Meaning: Get some sleep, especially a short rest.
In a Sentence:
I need to grab some shut-eye before my flight.
They grabbed some shut-eye in the car.
Other Ways to Say: Rest. Sleep a bit. Catch some Z’s.
39. Take five
Meaning: Take a short break, sometimes including a brief nap.
In a Sentence:
Let’s take five and then finish the project.
He took five to relax before continuing.
Other Ways to Say: Short break. Quick rest. Pause.
40. Rest your eyes
Meaning: Close your eyes briefly to reduce fatigue, not necessarily sleep.
In a Sentence:
I’m just resting my eyes, not sleeping.
She rested her eyes after hours on the computer.
Other Ways to Say: Relax. Close your eyes. Short pause.
41. Night owl
Meaning: A person who stays up late and feels more active at night.
In a Sentence:
I’m a night owl and love working after midnight.
She’s a night owl, always awake when everyone’s asleep.
Other Ways to Say: Late-nighter. Stay-up-late type. Evening person.
42. Asleep at the wheel
Meaning: Not paying attention or missing an important opportunity, like falling asleep while driving.
In a Sentence:
The manager was asleep at the wheel during the crisis.
We missed the deadline because someone was asleep at the wheel.
Other Ways to Say: Negligent. Unaware. Careless.
43. Beauty sleep
Meaning: Sleep that helps improve appearance or health.
In a Sentence:
I need my beauty sleep before the big day.
She never skips her beauty sleep routine.
Other Ways to Say: Rest for wellness. Rejuvenating sleep. Health sleep.
44. Let sleeping dogs lie
Meaning: Avoid revisiting old problems to prevent trouble.
In a Sentence:
Let’s not bring up that argument—let sleeping dogs lie.
He decided to let sleeping dogs lie and move on.
Other Ways to Say: Leave it alone. Don’t stir things up. Avoid reopening issues.
45. Early bird catches the worm
Meaning: People who wake up early or act quickly have an advantage.
In a Sentence:
She always gets the best deals—the early bird catches the worm.
He believes the early bird catches the worm in business.
Other Ways to Say: Be proactive. Act early. Get a head start.
46. Sleep with one eye open
Meaning: Sleep lightly or stay alert while resting.
In a Sentence:
He had to sleep with one eye open at the camp.
She’s cautious and always sleeps with one eye open when traveling.
Other Ways to Say: Be alert. Stay watchful. Light sleeper.
47. Sleep on it
Meaning: Wait overnight before making a decision.
In a Sentence:
I’ll sleep on it and decide tomorrow.
She told him to sleep on it before accepting the offer.
Other Ways to Say: Think it over. Delay decision. Reflect overnight.
48. Live like a vampire
Meaning: Stay up all night and sleep during the day.
In a Sentence:
During exam week, I lived like a vampire.
He’s been living like a vampire with his night shifts.
Other Ways to Say: Be nocturnal. Reverse schedule. Nighttime lifestyle.
49. Crash out
Meaning: Fall asleep suddenly from exhaustion.
In a Sentence:
We crashed out after the festival.
She crashed out on the sofa as soon as she got home.
Other Ways to Say: Knock out. Pass out. Drop off fast.
50. Hibernate
Meaning: Sleep or rest for a long time, like animals in winter.
In a Sentence:
I plan to hibernate all weekend after this busy week.
She loves to hibernate during cold days.
Other Ways to Say: Rest long. Stay in bed. Deep rest.
Exercise to practice
- After a long day at work, she decided to __________ early.
- I love to __________ on weekends when there’s no rush.
- He was so exhausted that he __________ right on the couch.
- Before accepting the offer, you should __________.
- She couldn’t __________ because of her worries.
- We all __________ after the long road trip.
- He always __________ late at night—he’s a true night owl.
- I tried to __________ on the train but couldn’t.
- They told us to __________ and think it over.
- After finishing the marathon, I just wanted to __________.
Answers
- hit the hay
- sleep in
- crashed out
- sleep on it
- sleep a wink
- crashed out
- stays up
- catch some Z’s
- sleep on it
- hibernate
Conclusion
The world of idioms for sleep turns rest into something almost magical—quiet journeys, heavy eyelids, and dreams that feel real. These expressions don’t just describe sleep; they let you feel it through words. Pick one or two that catch your eye and bring them into your daily talk. Got a favorite? Drop it in the comments!
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.
