sleep on

Meanings

1. 1phrasephrasal verbinformal

   To wait until the next day before making up your mind about something, so you can think about it overnight.

   Grammar: Takes an object that stays after on: sleep on it, sleep on the offer.

   Patterns

   • sleep on it
   • sleep on something

   I need to sleep on the job offer before I answer.

   Let me sleep on it and I will call you tomorrow.

   She decided to sleep on the idea instead of rushing.

2. 2phraseintransitive

   To continue sleeping on a particular surface or in a certain position, as in sleeping on your back.

   Grammar: Often written with an object after on, but here it is the literal verb sleep plus the preposition on.

   Patterns

   • sleep on something

   He prefers to sleep on a firm mattress.

   The dog likes to sleep on the sofa when we are out.

   Babies should sleep on their backs.

Word forms

Common combinations

sleep on it

I will sleep on it and let you know in the morning.

sleep on a decision

She chose to sleep on the decision before signing.

sleep on an offer

It is wise to sleep on an offer like that.

let me sleep on it

Let me sleep on it, and I will give you my answer tomorrow.

sleep on the idea

The team agreed to sleep on the idea and meet again on Monday.

Synonyms and how they differ

mull over

Means to think about something carefully for a while, with no suggestion that you wait until the next day.

think over

Is similar in meaning but plain, without the cozy idea of waiting overnight.

postpone

Means to delay an event or decision, and is more formal than sleep on.

Opposites

Word family

sleep verb

to rest with your eyes closed and mind switched off

sleeper noun

a person or thing that sleeps

sleepover noun

a night spent at someone else's home

Commonly confused: sleep on or sleep in?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “sleep on”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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