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Synonyms

sandman

American  
[sand-man] / ˈsændˌmæn /

noun

sandmen plural
  1. the man who, in fairy tales or folklore, puts sand in the eyes of children to make them sleepy.


sandman British  
/ ˈsændˌmæn /

noun

  1. (in folklore) a magical person supposed to put children to sleep by sprinkling sand in their eyes

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of sandman

First recorded in 1860–65; sand + man

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

But when she was hit with the deaths of her father and stepfather in rapid, peak COVID-era succession, the sandman took a more extended leave of absence.

From Salon Feb. 6, 2024

Garments are dusted with a glimmering sheen, as if visited by the sandman.

From Seattle Times Jan. 14, 2024

The title is from traditional children’s tales of a sandman who comes at bedtime to toss sand in children’s eyes to put them to sleep.

From Washington Post Mar. 8, 2018

Lacy is coming downstairs at night to find the furniture disordered; their youngest said the "sandman" told him about it.

From The Guardian Apr. 4, 2013

Ravenel paused in his talk to ask Barbara about the sandman, but the child stared wildly at her mother.

From John March, Southerner by Cable, George W.

She’s pretty and pretty ridiculous, but the digital sandmen her character summons up to fight Conan, which burst out of the ground like rockets and explode into dust, are nifty.

From New York Times Aug. 18, 2011

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