crash pad

American  

noun

1. Slang. a place to sleep or live temporarily and at no cost.

2. padding inside cars, tanks, or the like, for protecting passengers in the event of an accident, sudden stop, etc.

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crash pad British  

noun

1. slang a place to sleep or live temporarily

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crash pad Idioms  

1. A free, temporary lodging place, as in The company maintains several crash pads for employees from out-of-town divisions. This expression originally referred to a place affording runaways, drug addicts, and the like somewhere to crash in the sense of “sleep.” In time it also was used more broadly, as in the example. [Slang; 1960s]

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Etymology

Origin of crash pad

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Often, Rollinson would have to remind him to use a crash pad if he intended to try any diving, one-handed grabs on the practice field.

From Los Angeles Times

In a mostly quiet neighborhood of older homes and small apartment buildings, some residents have drawn their own no-go zones around what might sound like a crash pad for traveling backpackers: hostels.

From Los Angeles Times

Mauri moved into a cheap crash pad in Santa Monica, California, called Muscle House by the Sea.

From Slate

She shared an apartment with another code breaker in a rowhouse at 1633 Q St. NW, which became a crash pad of sorts for members of the military and others without a place to sleep.

From Washington Post

To dip into the adventure-travel energy here, stay at climbing-themed hostel the Crash Pad, where you can book a bouldering pad with your room reservation.

From Washington Post