Phrasal verb
doss down
Definition
phr.v. to sleep somewhere that is not a bed, like a friend's sofa or the floor, usually for just one night.
phr.v. to sleep in a makeshift or temporary bed, such as a sofa or floor, typically when standard accommodation is unavailable.
Examples
“I'll just doss down on your sofa for the night.”
“After missing the last train home, he had to doss down on the station floor until morning.”
“The hikers were forced to doss down in a derelict barn when the storm made further progress impossible.”
Examples
simple
“I'll just doss down on your sofa for the night.”
contextual
“After missing the last train home, he had to doss down on the station floor until morning.”
complex
“The hikers were forced to doss down in a derelict barn when the storm made further progress impossible.”
Usage
The verb is intransitive and often followed by 'on' or 'in' to describe the location.
Teaching tip
useful for teaching British slang related to 'doss' (to idle or avoid work); contrast with 'crash' which is more common in American English for the same scenario.
This is a very informal British term; in American English, 'crash' is the more common equivalent for sleeping on someone's sofa.
Synonyms
Phrasal verb
Particles
down
Separability
optional
Pattern
doss + down (+ on/in + object)
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/doss-down