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Etymology Journal ยท O

Out like a light

Meaning

Falling asleep almost instantly. It describes the speed and total nature of someone passing out.

Observational, cozy

Used in a sentence

  • The baby was out like a light after her long day at the park.
  • He went out like a light the moment his head hit the pillow.
  • I was so exhausted that I was out like a light before the movie even finished.

The backstory

The phrase refers to the instantaneous effect of flipping a light switch off. It has been a standard idiom for a rapid departure into slumber for decades.

Heard in

Nationwide

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