Meaning & use
a kip
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Meaning
nounsingularinformalBritish
A short sleep, especially one taken during the day.
Grammar: Usually singular and used with 'a' or 'some'; common in 'have a kip' or 'get some kip'. Not used in the plural for this sense.
Patterns
- have a kip
- get some kip
- a quick kip
I'm going to have a quick kip before dinner.
He had a kip on the sofa after lunch.
You look tired; why don't you get some kip?
Common combinations
- have a kip
- I usually have a kip for twenty minutes in the afternoon.
- get some kip
- She needs to get some kip before the night shift.
- a quick kip
- A quick kip can help you feel more alert.
Synonyms and how they differ
- nap
- The standard word for a short sleep; it is not informal and is used in both British and American English.
- snooze
- Informal and often means a short sleep, especially in the morning; less common than 'kip' in British English for an afternoon rest.
- doze
- A light, short sleep, often not planned; 'kip' usually suggests a deliberate rest.
Word family
- kip verb
- To sleep, especially in a place that is not your bed; informal British.
Commonly confused: a kip or kip?
a kip vs kip
As a verb, 'kip' means to sleep somewhere; as a noun, 'a kip' is a short sleep. The verb is also informal British.
Practice
In British English, what does 'have a kip' mean?
Choose one answer.
'Have a kip' means to take a short sleep, especially during the day. The other options are different activities and do not match the word 'kip'.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a kip”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.