# doss down

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/doss-down
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. to sleep in a temporary place

phrasal verb · CEFR C1 · British English · Informal · Slang

to sleep somewhere that is not a bed, like a friend's sofa or the floor, usually for just one night.

For teachers: to sleep in a makeshift or temporary bed, such as a sofa or floor, typically when standard accommodation is unavailable.

- I missed the last train home, so I had to doss down on my friend's sofa.
- After the long hike, the group was happy to doss down on the floor of the mountain hut for a few hours of rest.

Usage: The verb is intransitive and often followed by 'on' or 'in' to describe the location.

Teaching tip: This is a very informal British term; in American English, 'crash' is the more common equivalent for sleeping on someone's sofa.

## 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.

## Usage notes

- 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.

---

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.