nod off

verb

1. informal,  (intr, adverb) to fall asleep

Idioms and Phrases

Fall asleep momentarily, doze, as in Grandma spends a lot of time in her rocking chair, nodding off now and then. This expression alludes to the quick involuntary dropping of one's head from an upright position when drowsy or napping. The verb nod alone was so used from the mid-1500s. Also see drop off, def. 1.

Example Sentences

But alongside their love of walking, the two women share a less healthy trait: they struggle to nod off because of their anxiety.

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“I foresee us doing a run-through and a half tonight before people start nodding off.”

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While he had been present for much of the overnight session to pass the bill, he apparently nodded off at the worst possible time.

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The jet-lagged stranger next to me nodded off for a nap.

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The watchdog said exhaustion was also a risk to staff themselves with some complaining of nodding off at the wheel on the way home and reports of staff dying in road accidents after work.

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Related Words

• bed down www.thesaurus.com
• doze 
• fall asleep 
• languish 
• relax 
• snooze