Idioms are like little puzzle pieces in language that add color, emotion, and imagination to the way we speak. They don’t always mean what the words seem to say, but they help us describe feelings, actions, and moments in a way that’s more expressive and relatable. When it comes to going to bed, there are plenty of idioms people use to describe everything from feeling sleepy to actually falling asleep—and some of them are pretty funny too!
Whether you’re winding down after a long day, too tired to think, or just pretending to go to bed (yes, there’s an idiom for that too!), these bedtime expressions will make your language more playful and vivid. In this post, you’ll explore 40 fun idioms all about going to bed, learn what they mean, and see how you can use them in real-life conversations. It’s a cozy and creative way to boost your vocabulary—especially if you’re learning English or just love language. Let’s tuck in and start dreaming in idioms!
Idioms for Going to Bed
1. Hit the sack
Meaning: To go to bed.
In a Sentence: After such a busy day at work, I can’t wait to hit the sack and get some rest.
Other Ways to Say: Go to bed, Call it a night
2. Hit the hay
Meaning: To go to sleep, usually when feeling tired.
In a Sentence: I stayed up way too late yesterday, so I’m going to hit the hay early tonight.
Other Ways to Say: Head to bed, Turn in for the night
3. Turn in
Meaning: To go to bed, especially as part of a daily routine.
In a Sentence: It’s been a long day, so I’m going to turn in and get some sleep.
Other Ways to Say: Head to bed, Go to sleep
4. Call it a night
Meaning: To end your activities for the day and go to bed.
In a Sentence: We finished the movie, and everyone decided it was time to call it a night.
Other Ways to Say: Wrap up the day, Go to bed
5. Catch some Z’s
Meaning: To take a nap or get some sleep.
In a Sentence: I need to catch some Z’s before my early morning meeting tomorrow.
Other Ways to Say: Take a nap, Sleep
6. Crash out
Meaning: To fall asleep suddenly, usually from exhaustion.
In a Sentence: He was so tired after practice that he crashed out on the couch.
Other Ways to Say: Pass out, Fall asleep quickly
7. Drop off
Meaning: To begin to fall asleep.
In a Sentence: I was reading a book but started to drop off after a few pages.
Other Ways to Say: Doze off, Nod off
8. Nod off
Meaning: To fall asleep, especially when trying to stay awake.
In a Sentence: She nodded off during the lecture because she stayed up too late.
Other Ways to Say: Drift off, Fall asleep briefly
9. Doze off
Meaning: To fall asleep lightly or unintentionally.
In a Sentence: I dozed off while watching TV and woke up when the credits rolled.
Other Ways to Say: Fall asleep slowly, Take a light nap
10. Lights out
Meaning: Time to go to bed or turn off the lights for sleep.
In a Sentence: At summer camp, it was lights out by 10 p.m. sharp.
Other Ways to Say: Bedtime, Time to sleep
11. Call it quits for the night
Meaning: To stop what you’re doing and go to bed.
In a Sentence: I’ve been working on this puzzle for hours—time to call it quits for the night.
Other Ways to Say: Stop for the night, Head to bed
12. Sack out
Meaning: To go to sleep, often in a casual or laid-back way.
In a Sentence: He sacked out on the beanbag after the movie ended.
Other Ways to Say: Lay down, Go to bed
13. Get some shut-eye
Meaning: To get some sleep.
In a Sentence: I need to get some shut-eye before my big presentation tomorrow.
Other Ways to Say: Sleep, Rest up
14. Turn off for the night
Meaning: To wind down and go to bed.
In a Sentence: I’ve turned off all my screens—it’s time to turn off for the night.
Other Ways to Say: Power down, Go to sleep
15. Bed down
Meaning: To settle somewhere for sleep.
In a Sentence: We bedded down in our sleeping bags near the campfire.
Other Ways to Say: Lie down, Make a sleeping spot
16. Catch forty winks
Meaning: To take a short nap or rest.
In a Sentence: I just need to catch forty winks before dinner.
Other Ways to Say: Nap, Doze briefly
17. Go night-night
Meaning: A childish or playful way to say go to sleep.
In a Sentence: After his bedtime story, he went night-night without a fuss.
Other Ways to Say: Sleep time, Off to bed
18. Be out like a light
Meaning: To fall asleep immediately and deeply.
In a Sentence: As soon as her head hit the pillow, she was out like a light.
Other Ways to Say: Instantly asleep, Completely knocked out
19. Get your beauty sleep
Meaning: To get enough sleep to feel and look good.
In a Sentence: I need to get my beauty sleep if I want to look fresh tomorrow.
Other Ways to Say: Sleep well, Rest properly
20. Crawl into bed
Meaning: To get into bed slowly, often feeling tired or worn out.
In a Sentence: After that long flight, I just wanted to crawl into bed and never move again.
Other Ways to Say: Get into bed, Snuggle in
21. Hit the pillow
Meaning: To lie down and start sleeping.
In a Sentence: The moment I hit the pillow, I was already dreaming.
Other Ways to Say: Lie down, Fall asleep quickly
22. Pack it in for the night
Meaning: To stop activities and go to bed.
In a Sentence: We were too tired to finish the game, so we packed it in for the night.
Other Ways to Say: Stop for the night, Call it quits
23. Knock out
Meaning: To fall asleep very quickly or suddenly.
In a Sentence: I was so exhausted that I knocked out before brushing my teeth.
Other Ways to Say: Pass out, Fall asleep fast
24. Shut down
Meaning: To relax completely and go to bed.
In a Sentence: I’ve done enough today—it’s time to shut down and rest.
Other Ways to Say: Power off, Rest completely
25. Drift off
Meaning: To slowly fall asleep.
In a Sentence: She drifted off while listening to soft music.
Other Ways to Say: Fade into sleep, Doze
26. Turn the lights off
Meaning: To get ready for bed by ending the day.
In a Sentence: I’m going to turn the lights off and get some sleep.
Other Ways to Say: Lights out, Time to rest
27. Climb into bed
Meaning: To get into bed, especially when tired.
In a Sentence: After a long day at work, I just wanted to climb into bed and unwind.
Other Ways to Say: Get in bed, Lay down
28. Tuck in
Meaning: To get comfortably settled in bed.
In a Sentence: I love being tucked in with a warm blanket on cold nights.
Other Ways to Say: Get cozy, Settle into bed
29. Close your eyes
Meaning: To rest and start falling asleep.
In a Sentence: Just close your eyes and you’ll be asleep in no time.
Other Ways to Say: Begin to sleep, Relax
30. Head to bed
Meaning: To start moving toward bed with the intention of sleeping.
In a Sentence: It’s already midnight—I think I’ll head to bed now.
Other Ways to Say: Go to bed, Call it a night
31. Rest your head
Meaning: To lay your head down to sleep.
In a Sentence: You can rest your head here for a while if you’re feeling tired.
Other Ways to Say: Lie down, Nap
32. Snooze
Meaning: To take a nap or sleep lightly.
In a Sentence: I set an alarm for a quick snooze before my evening plans.
Other Ways to Say: Doze, Rest
33. Knock off
Meaning: To stop working and relax, often before bed.
In a Sentence: I’m going to knock off early tonight and get some good sleep.
Other Ways to Say: Quit for the day, Rest up
34. Power down
Meaning: To relax and get ready for bed.
In a Sentence: I like to power down with a book before going to sleep.
Other Ways to Say: Unwind, Get sleepy
35. Go out cold
Meaning: To fall asleep instantly and deeply.
In a Sentence: He went out cold right after dinner—didn’t even make it to bed.
Other Ways to Say: Instantly fall asleep, Be knocked out
36. Wrap it up
Meaning: To finish up activities and go to bed.
In a Sentence: Let’s wrap it up—it’s almost midnight already.
Other Ways to Say: End the night, Finish for today
37. Hit dreamland
Meaning: To fall asleep and start dreaming.
In a Sentence: She hit dreamland as soon as she got under the covers.
Other Ways to Say: Start dreaming, Fall asleep
38. Be dead to the world
Meaning: To be deeply asleep and unaware of anything.
In a Sentence: After running that marathon, I was dead to the world all night.
Other Ways to Say: Completely out, Sleeping deeply
39. Call bedtime
Meaning: To decide it’s time to go to bed.
In a Sentence: After that last episode, I think we should call bedtime.
Other Ways to Say: Announce it’s time to sleep, End the day
40. Pull the covers over your head
Meaning: To go to bed and hide away, often for comfort.
In a Sentence: I just wanted to pull the covers over my head and forget about everything.
Other Ways to Say: Go to bed, Hide and sleep
Exercise to Practice
Fill in the blanks:
- I’ve had such a long day—I can’t wait to _______ the sack.
- She was so sleepy that she _______ off during the movie.
- I need to _______ some Z’s before the road trip tomorrow.
- Once I _______ the pillow, I was fast asleep.
- I’ll _______ in early tonight so I can wake up refreshed.
- He was completely _______ to the world after that workout.
- We watched one more episode before _______ it a night.
- She told her kids it was time to go **_______-night.
- I’m going to _______ down on the couch and relax.
- I was so tired I just _______ out in my clothes.
- After camping all day, we _______ down under the stars.
- It’s time to _______ in and get cozy.
Answers:
hit, nodded, catch, hit, turn, dead, calling, night, sack, crashed, bedded, tuck
Conclusion
Idioms are a wonderful way to make your language more creative and fun—especially when you’re talking about something as everyday as going to bed. Whether you’re feeling drowsy, falling asleep mid-sentence, or just want a cozy phrase to describe your nightly routine, there’s an idiom that fits the moment.
Try using a few of these bedtime idioms in your own conversations or writing, and see how they add charm and color to your words. Over time, these phrases will become second nature, and you’ll find yourself describing your sleepy moments with just the right expression. Until then—hit the sack, catch some Z’s, and dream in idioms!
