asleep

asleep
a|sleep
S2 [əˈsli:p] adj [not before noun]
1.) sleeping
≠ ↑awake
▪ Quiet! The baby's asleep.
fast/sound asleep
(=sleeping deeply)
2.) fall asleep
a) to begin to sleep
▪ Grandad fell asleep watching TV.
▪ One in seven road accidents is caused by drivers falling asleep at the wheel (=fall asleep while driving) .
b) literary used to mean that someone dies, when you want to avoid saying this directly
3.) half asleep
very tired or not completely awake
▪ Still half asleep, Jenny began to make the kids' breakfast.
4.) an arm or leg that is asleep has been in one position for too long, so you cannot feel it properly
5.) asleep at the wheel/switch
not paying attention to a situation, so that something bad happens
▪ Several publishers were asleep at the switch, and missed the book's potential.
→go to sleep at ↑sleep2 (3) see usage note ↑sleep1

Dictionary of contemporary English. 2013.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Asleep — A*sleep , a. & adv. [Pref. a + sleep.] 1. In a state of sleep; in sleep; dormant. [1913 Webster] Fast asleep the giant lay supine. Dryden. [1913 Webster] By whispering winds soon lulled asleep. Milton. [1913 Webster] 2. In the sleep of the grave; …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Asleep. — Asleep. Allgemeine Informationen Genre(s) Indie Rock, Alternative Rock, Pop Gründung 1999 Website …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • asleep — ə slēp adj 1) being in a state of sleep 2) lacking sensation: NUMB asleep adv into a state of sleep …   Medical dictionary

  • asleep — [ə slēp′] adj. 1. in a condition of sleep; sleeping 2. inactive; dull; sluggish 3. numb except for a prickly feeling [my arm is asleep] 4. dead adv. into a sleeping or inactive condition …   English World dictionary

  • asleep — index dormant Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • asleep — c.1200, aslepe, o slæpe, from O.E. on slæpe (see SLEEP (Cf. sleep)). The parallel form on sleep continued until c.1550. Of limbs, from late 14c. Meaning inattentive, off guard is from mid 14c …   Etymology dictionary

  • asleep — [adj] unconscious catching some zzz’s*, comatose, conked*, crashed*, dormant, dozing, dreaming, flaked out*, getting shut eye*, hibernating, inactive, in dreamland*, inert, in repose, napping, on the kip*, out*, out cold*, out like a light*, out… …   New thesaurus

  • asleep — ► ADJECTIVE & ADVERB 1) in or into a state of sleep. 2) not attentive or alert. 3) (of a limb) numb …   English terms dictionary

  • asleep — a|sleep [ ə slip ] adjective never before noun ** 1. ) not awake: Are you asleep yet? fast/sound asleep (=sleeping very deeply): The children are fast asleep in their rooms. half asleep (=not fully awake): I groped for the phone, still half… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • asleep — [[t]əsli͟ːp[/t]] 1) ADJ: v link ADJ Someone who is asleep is sleeping. My four year old daughter was asleep on the sofa. Ant: awake 2) PHRASE: V inflects When you fall asleep, you start sleeping. Sam snuggled down in his pillow and fell asleep.… …   English dictionary

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