sleep like a log/top, to
Definition: To sleep very soundly.
Etymology and History:
- Sleep like a top: Originates from the image of a spinning top that, when spun fast, appears steady and motionless. First cited in Sir William Davenant’s “Rivals” in 1668. More prevalent in the British lexicon.
- Sleep like a log: Refers to the immobile, unresponsive nature of a log. Though common in modern usage, its roots extend back to the sixteenth century in England and are predominantly used in America now.
- Sleep like a swine (pig/hog): Chaucerian in origin, this term has faded from modern vocabulary but once symbolized deep, possibly snore-filled slumber.
Synonyms:
- Sleep soundly
- Sleep like a baby
- Out like a light
- Dead to the world
- Catch some z’s 🌜
Antonyms:
- Toss and turn
- Restless sleep
- Insomnia
- Up all night
- Light sleeper
Quotes and Proverbs:
- “Laugh and the world laughs with you. Snore and you sleep alone.” - Anthony Burgess
- “A ruffled mind makes a restless pillow.” - Charlotte Brontë
Related Terms:
- Cat nap: A short, light sleep.
- Forty winks: A brief nap.
- Power nap: A quick nap taken to recharge.
- Hit the hay/sack: To go to bed.
Suggested Literature, Music, and Movies:
- Book: “Insomnia” by Stephen King
- Song: “Enter Sandman” by Metallica
- Poetry: “To Sleep” by William Wordsworth
- Movie: “Inception” directed by Christopher Nolan
Quizzes! 🧐
### Which of these idioms means to sleep very soundly?
- [ ] Hanging by a thread
- [x] Sleep like a log
- [ ] On pins and needles
- [ ] A dime a dozen
> **Explanation:** "Sleep like a log" implies sleeping very deeply and soundly, akin to a log's stillness.
### Which phrase is primarily used in Britain?
- [ ] Sleep among the stars
- [ ] Sleep like a hog
- [x] Sleep like a top
- [ ] Sleep the American dream
> **Explanation:** "Sleep like a top" is a phrase more commonly used in Britain, drawing on the imagery of a spinning top.
### True or False: 'Sleep like a swine' is common contemporary jargon.
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** Though "sleep like a swine" has historical roots dating back to Chaucer, it is not commonly used today.
### Which one is an antonym of 'sleep like a log'?
- [x] Toss and turn
- [ ] Out like a light
- [ ] Dead to the world
- [ ] Catch some z's
> **Explanation:** "Toss and turn" describes a restless sleep, the opposite of sleeping soundly like a log.
Farewell Thought: As you navigate through the forest of the unconscious, may you snooze like the sturdiest log, remain steady like the swiftest top, and avoid the restless oinks of bygone swine. Sleep tight!
xoxo, E. Z. Snooze, lucky dreamer & tireless seeker of serenity
