1. Home
2. Idioms
3. fall asleep

fall asleep

---

---

fall asleep

Fig. to go to sleep. I fell asleep while reading the very dull book. I got in bed and fell asleep at once.

See also: asleep, fall

fall asleep

Go to sleep; also, cease paying attention. For example, As soon as the lights were dimmed he fell asleep, or His lectures are so dull that I fall asleep. The literal usage, which uses the verb fall in the sense of "succumb," dates from about 1300; the figurative is several centuries newer. Also see asleep at the switch.

See also: asleep, fall