Hit the sack

Definition

To go to bed or go to sleep. It's an informal way of saying you're ready to retire for the night.

Etymology

This American phrase dates to the early 1900s and comes from the time when mattresses were often just sacks filled with straw, hay, or other materials. 'Hitting the sack' literally meant getting into bed by plopping down on these simple, sack-like mattresses.

Kelly Says

The phrase captures the ungraceful reality of exhaustion - when you're truly tired, you don't gracefully 'retire' to bed, you 'hit' it with the force of someone who can barely stand anymore. The verb 'hit' suggests both the physical impact and the sudden transition from wakefulness to sleep.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.