nod off

British  

verb

1. informal (intr, adverb) to fall asleep

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nod off Idioms  

1. 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.

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Example Sentences

By the time we crossed into Arizona that first night, I was back in my roomette nodding off, lulled like a baby atop a washing machine.

From Los Angeles Times

Dad has so many degrees that I start to nod off anytime he lists them.

From Literature

At the moment, however, Penelope’s only wish was to wrestle herself out of that absurd outfit and into her own plain flannel nightdress before nodding off.

From Literature

She had nodded off in her chair; it was now fifteen minutes past eleven o’clock.

From Literature

He seems to nod off in public meetings, and afterward, his staff denies it happened.

From Salon

Related Words

• bed down
• doze
• fall asleep
• languish
• relax
• snooze