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Where did the expression 40 winks come from?
The phrase forty winks, meaning a short nap, can be traced back to Dr. Kitchiner’s 1821 self-help guide, The Art of Invigorating and Prolonging Life.
What does the saying 40 winks mean?
a short sleep
Definition of forty winks : a short sleep : nap.
How long is 40 winks sleep?
about 12-16 seconds
How long is 40 winks? According to Wikipedia a blink lasts for 300-400 milliseconds; if we surmise that a one-eyed wink lasts the same amount of time as a two-eyed blink, the duration of a “40 winks” nap would only be about 12-16 seconds.
Can barely catch four winks much less 40 of them meaning?
What does Drew mean when he says that he “can barely catch four winks, much less 40 of them”? He means that his eyes are itching and causing him to wink. He means that he used to be able to wink forty times in a row.
Why do we say for Pete’s sake?
“For Pete’s sake” originated as a substitute for “for Christ’s (or God’s) sake,” and other similar expressions—as using a shortened form of the disciple St. Peter’s name instead was considered less offensive.
What is the difference between a siesta and a nap?
A siesta (from Spanish, pronounced [ˈsjesta] and meaning “nap”) is a short nap taken in the early afternoon, often after the midday meal. Such a period of sleep is a common tradition in some countries, particularly those where the weather is warm.
What does taking a kip mean?
sleep
Kip is sleep. If you kip somewhere, usually somewhere that is not your own home or bed, you sleep there.
What does cat nap mean?
: a very short light nap.
Where did dressed to the nines?
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the first recorded instance of dressing to the nines was in the 1859 Dictionary of Slang, by John Camden Hotten where it states: “’dressed up to the nines’, in a showy or recherché manner.”
What does the phrase forty winks mean?
forty winks. A nap or a brief sleep. When you have a baby for the first time, you are suddenly forced to learn how to operate on only forty winks at a time.
What is the origin of the phrase ‘forty winks’?
The phrase to catch forty winks means to take a short nap. It is not normally used when talking about sleeping through the night. This idiom first became popular during the 19th century and originated in Britain . A slight variation of this phrase, to take forty winks, still carries the same meaning.
Is the phrase ‘forty winks’ singular or plural?
The noun forty winks is plural only. The plural form of forty winks is also forty winks.
What does it mean to have forty winks?
forty winks. a short sleep or nap, especially during the day. This expression dates from the early 19th century, but wink in the sense of ‘a closing of the eyes for sleep’ is found from the late 14th century. forty ˈwinks. (informal) a short sleep, especially during the day: I managed to get forty winks after lunch.