Subtitles section Play video Print subtitles Hi this is Tutor Nick P and this is Idioms 235. The idiom today is to sleep tight. Okay. Let's take a look at the note here. This idiom is often used as someone going to bed. So while they're going to bed. This is when you may say that to them. It basically means to sleep well or warm and safe. That's that idea is kind of suggested as well. It tends to be used more with children. So we often say to children , you know, sleep tight for you know, little kids. All right. Let's continue. One belief of the origin goes all the way back to when mattresses were supported by ropes. They used to pull them and tie them with ropes. If one slept tight, it meant that the ropes were pulled tight. This allowed for a more comfortable bed. Okay. Well that's one theory that's one idea. It sounds like it could be logical, but then we have opposing points of view here. Others claim that this belief is incorrect or not correct, and that tight used to mean soundly or properly. So it had another meaning at one time to mean soundly or properly. Therefore sleeping tight meant to sleep soundly. You know, in a very deep sleep. So not waking up easily. So that sort of is a better sleep. All right. And let's look at a couple of examples here. Example one. It has both an a/b part. A says I'm exhausted. I think I will turn in now. Turn in means you're going to go to bed. If you're going to say that you're gonna turn in for the night, it means., yeah you're going to bed. You're going to go lie down in bed, And B says, okay, sleep tight, Don't let the bedbugs bite. Yeah we hear this one a lot. Sometimes. we actually follow 'sleep tight' with don't let the bedbugs bite. Even though , to be honest with you in the West. There's really not many bed bugs. We do know that bed bugs do exist, and I have seen them in a number of countries where there really are bed bugs. I don't know maybe in the US it's possible maybe has somebody that works on farm. They'd be more likely to get them, but I remember even as a kid thinking bedbugs. Do they really exist ? Why did they say bedbugs, but I did find out later on that I have seen bedbugs. I know what they look like. Yeah. So anyway but sometimes you hear that put together. Sleep tight , don't let the bedbugs bite. So hopefully somebody's not going to bed knowing that there is bedbugs there. Hopefully they try to get rid of them somehow. All right. Anyway, number two here is " Good night. Sleep tight. See you in the morning. ' That's the way we would usually say it. So just again, just as they are going to bed. That's when you say sleep tight. Anyway, I hope you got it . I hope it is clear. Thank you for your time. Bye-bye.
A2 US tight bed sleep bite belief idiom English Tutor Nick P Idioms (235) Sleep Tight 20 0 anitawu12 posted on 2019/05/04 More Share Save Report Video vocabulary