pick

forty winks

forty winks {n. phr.}, {informal}

A short period of sleep; a nap.

When the truck driver felt sleepy, he stopped by the side of the road to catch forty winks.

Compare: SHUT-EYE.

Categories:

Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms

Subscribe to: American Idioms

English Slang

✉

We are in Telegram

Our RSS-feeds

Show All

See as well

shut-eye

[shut-eye] {n.}, {slang} Sleep. * /It's very late. We'd better get some shut-eye./ * /I'm going to get some shut-eye before the game./ Compare: [FORTY WINKS]. A Dictionary of American Idioms

catch forty winks

[catch forty winks] See: [FORTY WINKS]. A Dictionary of American Idioms

wink

[wink] See: [FORTY WINKS], [SLEEP A WINK]. A Dictionary of American Idioms

sponge on

[sponge on] or [off] {v. phr.} To exploit parasitically; depend upon for support. * /He is already forty years old, but he refuses to go to work and sponges off […] A Dictionary of American Idioms

Recent updates

give rein to

[give rein to] or [give free rein to] {v. phr.} To remove all restrictions or limitations from someone or something. * /When […]

stick to one's knitting

[stick to one's knitting] or [tend to one's knitting] {v. phr.}, {informal} To do your own job and not bother other people. * […]

Mark Twain

(1835-1910) It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except […]

Russell Peters - Accents Clip

Russell Peters rips on people's accents.

George Carlin on "Happens to be" & "Openly"

George talks about the overuse of the 2 expressions :)

American Slang

A starting point to explore free video lessons on American slang.

break-even

[break-even] {n.} The point of equilibrium in a business venture when one has made as much money as one had invested, but not […]

passed ball

[passed ball] {n.} A pitched baseball missed by the catcher when he should have been able to catch it. * /The batter singled […]