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Meaning & use

take a cat nap

phrase·Everydayinformal

Last updated

UK/ˌteɪk ə ˈkæt næp/
US/ˌteɪk ə ˈkæt næp/

Meanings

  1. phraseidiominformal

    To sleep for a short time, usually sitting or lying down during the day.

    Grammar: Used as a fixed phrase with 'take': take a cat nap. You can also say 'have a cat nap' in British English.

    Patterns

    • take a cat nap
    • take a cat nap on the sofa
    • take a quick cat nap

    I usually take a cat nap after lunch on weekends.

    She took a cat nap on the train and almost missed her stop.

    If you're tired, take a cat nap for twenty minutes and you'll feel better.

  2. phrasecountableinformal

    A short daytime sleep, especially one taken in a chair or without going to bed.

    Grammar: Here the phrase works as a noun; the plural is 'cat naps': two cat naps.

    Patterns

    • a cat nap
    • take a cat nap
    • a short cat nap

    A cat nap in the afternoon helps me concentrate later.

    He had a cat nap in his office chair before the meeting.

    Short cat naps are common in countries with a midday break.

Word forms

third person singulartakes a cat nap
past tensetook a cat nap
past participletaken a cat nap
-ing formtaking a cat nap

Common combinations

take a cat nap
He likes to take a cat nap right after lunch.
a quick cat nap
A quick cat nap gave her enough energy for the evening.
a short cat nap
A short cat nap is better than a long one for most people.
take a cat nap on the sofa
Dad took a cat nap on the sofa while the game was on.
grab a cat nap
I grabbed a cat nap between classes.

Synonyms and how they differ

doze
'Doze' means to sleep lightly, often without planning to, while 'take a cat nap' suggests a deliberate short sleep.
nap
'Nap' is the general word for a short sleep; 'take a cat nap' is more informal and often suggests a brief, light sleep.
snooze
'Snooze' is informal and often means sleeping a little longer than planned, especially in the morning.
rest
'Rest' means to relax without necessarily sleeping, so it is weaker than 'take a cat nap'.

Opposites

wake upstay awake

Word family

catnap noun
One word for a short daytime sleep.
catnap verb
To sleep briefly during the day.
napper noun
A person who often takes short sleeps.

Commonly confused: take a cat nap or power nap?

take a cat nap vs power nap

A 'power nap' is a short sleep meant to boost energy and focus, often exactly 10–20 minutes; a 'cat nap' is simply any short light sleep and sounds more casual.

Practice

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