33 Idioms for Going to Bed

Going to bed is a daily ritual, and there are many creative ways to talk about it. From simply saying “goodnight” to expressing how tired we are, idioms for going to bed convey not only the act of sleep but also the emotions and actions that accompany it. Whether it’s calling it a night or crashing into bed, idioms provide a more colorful way to describe winding down at the end of the day.

In this article, you’ll discover 33 idioms for going to bed, each reflecting different nuances of bedtime, sleep, and rest.

1. Hit the Sack

Meaning: To go to bed, especially when tired.
In a Sentence:

• After a long day at work, I’m ready to hit the sack.
• She was so exhausted that she couldn’t wait to hit the sack as soon as she got home.
  Other Ways to Say: Go to sleep, go to bed, retire for the night

2. Catch Some Z’s

Meaning: To sleep or get some rest.
In a Sentence:

• I didn’t sleep well last night; I need to catch some Z’s.
• After the long flight, he just wanted to catch some Z’s and relax.
  Other Ways to Say: Take a nap, rest, sleep

3. Turn In

Meaning: To go to bed, especially when it’s time to sleep.
In a Sentence:

• It’s getting late; I think I’ll turn in for the night.
• She decided to turn in early because she had an early meeting the next morning.
  Other Ways to Say: Go to bed, retire, head to bed

4. Call It a Night

Meaning: To stop working or doing something and go to bed.
In a Sentence:

• After finishing the project, I decided to call it a night.
• It’s getting late; let’s call it a night and get some rest.
  Other Ways to Say: End the day, stop for the night, rest for the evening

5. Turn Off the Lights

Meaning: To prepare to go to sleep by turning off lights or making the environment ready for rest.
In a Sentence:

• I’m about to turn off the lights and go to bed.
• After a long day, all he wanted to do was turn off the lights and get some sleep.
  Other Ways to Say: Go to bed, shut off the lights, end the day

6. Hit the Hay

Meaning: To go to bed or sleep, especially when tired.
In a Sentence:

• After such a long day, I’m ready to hit the hay.
• He couldn’t keep his eyes open, so he decided to hit the hay early.
  Other Ways to Say: Go to bed, sleep, retire for the night

7. Retire for the Night

Meaning: To go to bed and stop activities for the day.
In a Sentence:

• I’m exhausted, so I think I’ll retire for the night.
• She decided to retire for the night and get some rest before her big day tomorrow.
  Other Ways to Say: Go to bed, end the day, call it a night

8. Crawl into Bed

Meaning: To get into bed, often used when someone is very tired or when they’re in a hurry.
In a Sentence:

• He could barely keep his eyes open and crawled into bed as soon as he got home.
• After the long trip, she crawled into bed and fell asleep immediately.
  Other Ways to Say: Get into bed, lie down, rest in bed

9. Snuggle Up

Meaning: To get cozy in bed, often in a comfortable or affectionate way.
In a Sentence:

• After a long day, it feels great to snuggle up with a good book.
• They snuggled up in bed, enjoying the warmth and comfort of the blankets.
  Other Ways to Say: Curl up, get cozy, get comfortable

10. Doze Off

Meaning: To fall asleep, often unintentionally or while in a relaxed state.
In a Sentence:

• I was watching a movie, but I dozed off halfway through.
• She was so tired that she dozed off right after getting into bed.
  Other Ways to Say: Fall asleep, drift off, nod off

11. Catch Some Shut-Eye

Meaning: To get some sleep or take a short nap.
In a Sentence:

• After a long day, all I want to do is catch some shut-eye.
• I need to catch some shut-eye before the big presentation tomorrow.
  Other Ways to Say: Sleep, take a nap, rest

12. Turn in Early

Meaning: To go to bed earlier than usual, typically to get rest.
In a Sentence:

• I’m feeling really tired, so I think I’ll turn in early tonight.
• After the busy day, they decided to turn in early to recover.
  Other Ways to Say: Go to bed early, rest early, sleep earlier

13. Sleep Like a Log

Meaning: To sleep deeply and soundly without waking up.
In a Sentence:

• After the hike, I slept like a log and didn’t wake up until morning.
• He slept like a log last night, undisturbed by anything.
  Other Ways to Say: Sleep soundly, sleep deeply, sleep peacefully

14. Catch Forty Winks

Meaning: To take a short nap, often during the day.
In a Sentence:

• I’m feeling a bit tired; I think I’ll catch forty winks before the meeting.
• She decided to catch forty winks on the couch before getting back to work.
  Other Ways to Say: Nap, rest briefly, take a quick nap

15. Go to Sleep with the Chickens

Meaning: To go to bed very early, especially before most people.
In a Sentence:

• He has a habit of going to sleep with the chickens, even on weekends.
• After working long hours, she often goes to sleep with the chickens.
  Other Ways to Say: Go to bed early, retire early, sleep early

16. Hit the Pillows

Meaning: To go to bed or lie down to sleep, often after a long day.
In a Sentence:

• I’ve been on my feet all day, and I can’t wait to hit the pillows tonight.
• After the exhausting day at work, he couldn’t wait to hit the pillows.
  Other Ways to Say: Go to bed, rest, fall asleep

17. Sleep Tight

Meaning: A way to wish someone a peaceful and restful sleep, often said before going to bed.
In a Sentence:

• Goodnight! Sleep tight, and I’ll see you in the morning.
• She tucked her children in and said, “Sleep tight, little ones.”
  Other Ways to Say: Sleep well, rest well, have a peaceful sleep

18. Crash Out

Meaning: To fall asleep quickly, usually due to exhaustion.
In a Sentence:

• After the long trip, I just crashed out as soon as I got home.
• She crashed out on the couch, too tired to even go to bed.
  Other Ways to Say: Fall asleep, pass out, drop off

19. Get Some Rest

Meaning: To take time to relax and recover, often referring to sleep.
In a Sentence:

• You should get some rest after your long shift to feel better tomorrow.
• He’s been working nonstop; he really needs to get some rest.
  Other Ways to Say: Take a break, sleep, relax

20. Tuck In

Meaning: To get into bed and arrange the covers comfortably, often said to children before going to sleep.
In a Sentence:

• She tucked the kids in and kissed them goodnight before heading to bed herself.
• After a long day, he finally tucked in and fell asleep quickly.
  Other Ways to Say: Make oneself comfortable in bed, settle in for the night, prepare for bed

21. Call It a Night

Meaning: To decide to stop working or stop an activity for the day and go to bed.
In a Sentence:

• After a long day of meetings, they decided to call it a night.
• I’m exhausted; I think it’s time to call it a night.
  Other Ways to Say: End the day, stop for the night, wrap it up

22. Turn Off the Lights

Meaning: To get ready for bed by turning off the lights, signaling the end of the day.
In a Sentence:

• After finishing her book, she turned off the lights and went to sleep.
• He turned off the lights and snuggled under the covers, ready to rest.
  Other Ways to Say: Go to bed, shut off the lights, prepare for sleep

23. Sleep Like a Baby

Meaning: To sleep very soundly and peacefully, without waking up.
In a Sentence:

• After the long hike, I slept like a baby and didn’t wake up until morning.
• He’s been sleeping like a baby since the stress of work was lifted.
  Other Ways to Say: Sleep deeply, sleep soundly, rest peacefully

24. Take a Nap

Meaning: To rest or sleep for a short period during the day.
In a Sentence:

• I’m feeling a bit tired; I think I’ll take a nap before dinner.
• She likes to take a nap after work to recharge.
  Other Ways to Say: Rest, sleep briefly, doze off

25. Turn in for the Night

Meaning: To go to bed and prepare for sleep, typically at the end of the day.
In a Sentence:

• It’s getting late, so I think I’ll turn in for the night.
• After finishing all her tasks, she decided to turn in for the night.
  Other Ways to Say: Go to bed, retire, call it a night

26. Lay Down for a Rest

Meaning: To lie down with the intention of resting or sleeping.
In a Sentence:

• She decided to lay down for a rest after the long meeting.
• He lay down for a rest but ended up falling asleep.
  Other Ways to Say: Lie down, take a rest, lie down for sleep

27. Hit the Hay

Meaning: To go to bed and sleep, often used informally.
In a Sentence:

• I’m exhausted, I think it’s time to hit the hay.
• After the late-night movie, they decided to hit the hay.
  Other Ways to Say: Go to bed, sleep, turn in

28. Snooze Button

Meaning: The button on an alarm clock that allows you to delay waking up by sleeping for a few extra minutes.
In a Sentence:

• I hit the snooze button a few times before finally getting out of bed.
• He kept hitting the snooze button, not ready to leave the warmth of his bed.
  Other Ways to Say: Delay waking up, sleep in, extend sleep time

29. Go to Sleep with the Chickens

Meaning: To go to bed very early, often before others.
In a Sentence:

• She goes to sleep with the chickens, always getting a full night’s rest.
• He’s an early riser and goes to sleep with the chickens every night.
  Other Ways to Say: Sleep early, retire early, go to bed early

30. Doze Off

Meaning: To fall asleep, usually quickly or unintentionally.
In a Sentence:

• He dozed off on the couch after the long day of travel.
• She started to doze off during the movie, barely able to keep her eyes open.
  Other Ways to Say: Fall asleep, nod off, drift off

31. Take a Snooze

Meaning: To take a short nap, usually during the day.
In a Sentence:

• I’m feeling a bit tired, so I’m going to take a snooze.
• He likes to take a snooze in the afternoon to recharge.
  Other Ways to Say: Nap, rest, catch some sleep

32. Crash Out

Meaning: To fall asleep quickly due to exhaustion.
In a Sentence:

• After a 12-hour flight, I crashed out as soon as I got into bed.
• She crashed out on the couch after a long and exhausting day.
  Other Ways to Say: Sleep deeply, pass out, fall asleep instantly

33. Get Some Shut-Eye

Meaning: To get some sleep, usually implying that the sleep is needed.
In a Sentence:

• I need to get some shut-eye before tomorrow’s big presentation.
• After the hectic week, I plan to get some shut-eye this weekend.
  Other Ways to Say: Sleep, take a nap, rest

Practice Exercise

1. After a long day, he was ready to ___________ and get some sleep.
2. She was so tired she couldn’t keep her eyes open and quickly ___________ on the couch.
3. It’s getting late, I think I’ll ___________ and head to bed.
4. After a busy day at work, I love to ___________ and relax before going to sleep.
5. He had been working hard, and it was finally time to ___________ and end the day.
6. I decided to ___________ early because I had an early meeting the next morning.
7. She decided to ___________ after the long day and get some rest.
8. It was getting late, so we decided to ___________ and get some shut-eye.
9. He planned to ___________ after an exhausting day of running errands.
10. She always likes to ___________ in bed with her favorite blanket to stay warm.
11. After hiking all day, I ___________ and slept deeply without waking up.
12. “Goodnight, sleep tight,” she said before turning off the lights and going to bed.
13. After an afternoon of sightseeing, I need to ___________ and take a short rest.
14. He loves to ___________ and stay up late, even when he has an early morning meeting.
15. She ___________ at midnight, ready to face the new day refreshed.
16. I’ll have to ___________ for a while before I start studying for my exam.
17. It’s late, but I’m still ___________—I can’t keep my eyes open any longer.
18. He was so exhausted after the marathon that he ___________ as soon as he got home.
19. I could hear the rain tapping on the window as I ___________ and drifted off to sleep.
20. After finishing her novel, she decided to ___________ early and head to bed.
21. It was a long day at work, so I think I’ll just ___________ and get some shut-eye.
22. He tried to work through the night, but eventually, he had to ___________ and take a break.
23. She had to ___________ and leave the party because she was tired.
24. He looked forward to the weekend so he could ___________ and rest all day.
25. After the stressful week, she just wanted to ___________ and sleep in.
26. He was so tired that he decided to ___________ and not worry about his unfinished tasks.
27. The children loved to ___________ together for warmth after reading a bedtime story.
28. She planned to ___________ after work to prepare for tomorrow.
29. It was getting late, and I decided to ___________ after working hard all day.
30. He was on a business trip and had to ___________ early to get up for a morning flight.
31. It’s getting late; I think I’ll ___________ now.

Answer Key

1. a) Hit the Sack
2. j) Doze Off
3. d) Call It a Night
4. e) Turn Off the Lights
5. i) Call It a Day
6. g) Retire for the Night
7. h) Get Some Rest
8. d) Call It a Night
9. x) Take a Snooze
10. u) Snuggle Up
11. k) Sleep Like a Log
12. l) Sleep Tight
13. q) Take a Nap
14. r) Go to Sleep with the Chickens
15. t) Hit the Pillows
16. n) Snooze Button
17. o) Crash Out
18. p) Sleep Like a Baby
19. f) Hit the Hay
20. w) Turn in for the Night
21. b) Catch Some Z’s
22. o) Crash Out
23. t) Hit the Pillows
24. x) Take a Snooze
25. p) Sleep Like a Baby
26. r) Go to Sleep with the Chickens
27. u) Snuggle Up
28. j) Doze Off
29. d) Call It a Night
30. g) Retire for the Night
31. v) Go the Extra Mile

Conclusion

Going to bed is more than just a routine; it’s a moment of rest and restoration, and these 33 idioms for going to bed offer creative and expressive ways to describe the act of preparing for sleep. Whether you’re “hitting the sack” after a long day or “catching some Z’s” during a midday nap, these idioms make it easier to communicate your need for rest and relaxation.

From casual expressions like “crash out” to the more gentle “sleep tight,” these idioms help convey the various emotional and physical aspects of bedtime. They allow you to speak about sleep in a more nuanced and colorful way, whether you’re looking to say goodnight or describe your tiredness. By using idioms expressing tiredness, you can capture the essence of your exhaustion with creativity and flair. Phrases like “hitting the hay” or “burning the midnight oil” not only paint a vivid picture but also resonate with others who understand the shared experience of fatigue. These expressions enrich conversations about sleep, making them more relatable and engaging.

Next time you’re preparing for bed, consider using one of these idioms to add some personality to your evening routine or describe your sleepy mood with ease. From “catching some Z’s” to “hitting the hay,” idioms related to sleep can bring a touch of humor and color to your nighttime rituals. Try incorporating these phrases while you wind down, and watch as they effortlessly convey your cozy state of mind. Whether you’re settling in with a good book or preparing to drift off, these expressions can transform your routine into a charming nightly narrative.