Meaning of beauty sleep | Babel Free

Definitions

1. Originally, sleep taken before midnight, on the belief that early sleep hours conduce to beauty and health; now (chiefly humorous), sleep at any time needed by one to stay beautiful; (countable) an instance of such sleep.
   idiomatic, uncountable
2. Extra sleep; also (generally), any sleep; (countable) an instance of this; an extra nap.
   humorous, idiomatic, uncountable

Equivalents

Examples

“A medical man, who may be called up at any moment, must make⟳ sure of his ‘beauty-sleep.’”

“And would I please⟳ to remember⟳ that I had roused him up at night, and the quality always made a point⟳ of paying four times over for a man's loss of his beauty-sleep. I replied that his loss of beauty-sleep was rather improving to a man of so high complexion; and that I, being none of that quality, must pay⟳ half-quality prices; […]”

“At first he was quite peevish. "What's the idea," he said, "coming and spoiling a man's beauty-sleep? Get⟳ out."”

“But eager as Kate was for her beauty sleep⟳, the light⟳ burned late in her room; and long after she had seen Mrs. Murray snugly tucked in for the night, she sat with Ranald's open⟳ letter in her hand, reading it till she almost knew it by heart.”

“"I know⟳ I ought to be taking a beauty sleep⟳," she thought, "so I'll be all fresh and fine for the evening, but I must find⟳ it [a piece of turquoise], for I promised Phil I'd wear⟳ it."”

CEFR level