2024-09-20 Phrasal verbs for sleep – Phrasal verbs with Georgie

Introduction

Georgie teaches you some phrasal verbs that can be used to talk about sleep. 

Phrasal verbs mentioned

lie down
put yourself in a flat, usually horizontal position

• He lay down on the sofa to watch some TV and ended up falling asleep.
• The doctor asked him to lie down while she examined him.

stay up
continue to stay awake longer than you would usually

• We stayed up late watching movies until 2am.
• The kids wanted to stay up past their bedtime to see the fireworks.

doze/nod off
go to sleep slowly and gradually, often without intending to and often during the day

• He dozed off during the lecture because he was so tired.
• It doesn’t matter how interested Dad is in the film, he always nods off.

crash out
fall asleep rapidly because you’re very tired

• After the long hike, everyone crashed out as soon as they got back to the cabin.
• We crashed out at a friend’s place after the party because we were too tired to drive home.

sleep through (something) 
sleep and not be woken up by a loud noise or some kind of disturbance 

• She slept through her alarm and was consequently late for work.
• He slept through the thunderstorm and didn’t wake up until morning.

sleep on (something)
think about something while sleeping before making a decision

• I’m not sure about the offer. I’ll sleep on it and give you an answer tomorrow.
• Before making any decisions, it’s always good to sleep on it and think it over.

TOP TIPS!

• If you see the word ‘something’, it usually means the verb requires an object.
• If ‘something’ is in the middle of the phrasal verb, it means that it can be separated by the object (but doesn’t have to be).
• If ‘something’ is at the end of the phrasal verb, it means it cannot be separated.
• When a pronoun, e.g. him, her, them, is the object of a separable phrasal verb, it must go between the verb and the particle.