Who loves sleep? Whether you need to hit the sack or hit the hay, there are so many different fun ways you can say that you’re going to sleep or to talk about sleep in general. Check out expressions below and see some examples on how you can use them in a sentence.
I don’t know about you, but I’m always the first person in my home to go to sleep. Some might say the hour I go to sleep is embarrassing (is 8 pm in bed too much to ask for?) Anyways, whether you’re the same as me or not, here are a few fun idioms you can use to say you are going to sleep:
Go to bed This is probably the most common one that basic learners use. Native speakers normally say it when they are physically going to their bed and not necessarily going to sleep.
Example: I plan to go to bed early so that I can get a few chapters of my book in.
Hit the sack This is a very casual and common expression used to say you’re going to bed. A “sack” in English is like a bag, or in this context, a bed.
Example: After dinner, I’m going to hit the sack.
Hit the hay This idiom was started in the 1800s when people used to stuff their bedding with burlap and hay (from the field) so make their beds more comfortable.
Example: Lucy, you’re up to late tonight; it’s time for you to hit the hay.
Retire for the night When we say “retire”, we are normally using it in a formal setting. And so, this expression is used more commonly in both casual and formal settings.
Example: It’s been a long day, I think I’ll retire for the night.
Turn in A more casual way to say that you’re going to sleep.
Example: I’m exhausted, time to turn in for the night.
Here are some expressions to use when you talk about sleep:
Sleep in When you sleep longer in the morning than usual.
Example: On the weekends, I love to sleep in.
Sleep like a log This expression is used when you have such a deep sleep that you don’t move at all and nobody can wake you up. A log is referring to a fallen down tree.
Example: You were sleeping like a log last night.
Fast asleep “Fast asleep” is an adjective. It is a state. It means to be sleeping very well, very similarly to “sleep like a log”.
Example: The baby was fast asleep when I checked on her a few minutes ago.
Fall asleep The process going to sleep.
Example: You were falling asleep in your food!
Oversleep It means to sleep until a later time than usual, so it is very similar to “sleep in”. However, if you oversleep, it is NOT by choice.
Example: Oh shoot! I overslept! I’m going to be late for work!
