sleep tight

English

Etymology

The word tight is sometimes explained as here meaning “well, soundly”.[1] However, it can just as well be interpreted in its literal sense of “firm, fast”; compare fast asleep.

Phrase

sleep tight

  1. If you keep yourself tightly bundled you will sleep warm and rest well.
    Sleep tight! Don't let the bedbugs bite!

Interjection

sleep tight

  1. (nightly farewell) good night
    • 1963, J P Donleavy, A Singular Man, published 1963 (USA), pages 138, 139:
      "Thank you for washing the dishes."
      "Goodnight, Mr Smith.
      "Goodnight, Miss Martin. Sleep tight."
      Miss Martin's door closes. Hear her light switch on.
      Smith locking latches on doors and windows. Turning off the faint music on the vast radio. The light out under Miss Martin's door.

Translations

See also

References
  1. “What is the origin of the phrase ‘sleep tight’?”, in Oxford Living Dictionaries‎, 2018 July 23 (last accessed), archived from the original on 10 April 2017
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