sleep on

verb

To postpone (a decision) at least overnight, to avoid making a hasty choice.

“I can't believe I slept on that movie for so long.”

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Meanings

verbsleep on (third-person singular simple present sleeps on, present participle sleeping on, simple past and past participle slept on)

present singular third person sleeps on · participle present sleeping on · participle past slept on · past slept on

  1. idiomaticTo postpone (a decision) at least overnight, to avoid making a hasty choice.

    I like the idea, but let me sleep on it before we go ahead.

    1 more example

    There's no chance to sleep on the matter. You have to decide now.

  2. idiomaticslangTo miss or ignore; to underappreciate; to underestimate the quality of something.

    I can't believe I slept on that movie for so long.

    1 more example

    People are really sleeping on that restaurant down the street.

  3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see sleep, on.

Translations

Bulgarian у́трото е по-мъ́дро от вечерта́
  • у́трото е по-мъ́дро от вечерта́ (útroto e po-mắdro ot večertá)to postpone a decision at least overnight
Catalan consultar amb el coixí
  • consultar amb el coixíto postpone a decision at least overnight
Czech vyspat se na to, ráno moudřejší večera
  • vyspat se na toto postpone a decision at least overnight
  • ráno moudřejší večerato postpone a decision at least overnight
Finnish nukkua yön yli
  • nukkua yön ylito postpone a decision at least overnight
French la nuit porte conseil
  • la nuit porte conseilto postpone a decision at least overnight
German eine Nacht darüber schlafen, Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund
  • eine Nacht darüber schlafento postpone a decision at least overnight
  • Morgenstund hat Gold im Mundto postpone a decision at least overnight
Hungarian alszik rá egyet
  • alszik rá egyetto postpone a decision at least overnight
Italian dormirci sopra, dormirci
  • dormirci soprato postpone a decision at least overnight
  • dormircito postpone a decision at least overnight
  • la notte porta consiglioto postpone a decision at least overnight
Latin Aurora musis amica, dies diem docet
  • Aurora musis amicato postpone a decision at least overnight
  • dies diem docetto postpone a decision at least overnight
Polish przespać się z, przeoczać
  • przespać się zto postpone a decision at least overnight
  • przeoczaćto miss
  • przeoczyćto miss
  • ignorowaćto miss
  • zignorowaćto miss
Portuguese consulte o travesseiro, durma nisso
  • consulte o travesseiroto postpone a decision at least overnight
  • durma nissoto postpone a decision at least overnight
Russian у́тро ве́чера мудрене́е
  • у́тро ве́чера мудрене́е (útro véčera mudrenéje)to postpone a decision at least overnight
Spanish consultar con la almohada
  • consultar con la almohadato postpone a decision at least overnight
Cite this entry
APA

sleep on. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sleep%20on

MLA

“sleep on.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sleep%20on. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “sleep on,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sleep%20on.

Source: sleep on on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.