# forty winks

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/forty-winks
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A short sleep, an extra sleep, a nap.

## Examples

- I need forty winks before dinner.
- The baby was finally asleep, so the tired mother grabbed forty winks on the sofa.
- Between shifts at the hospital, the young doctor would steal forty winks in the on-call room, her coat folded beneath her head for a pillow.

## Origin

From forty + winks, possibly referring to a nap supposedly lasting as long as it takes a person to wink (i.e., blink) forty times. (disputed)

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.