# kip down on

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/kip-down-on
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to sleep somewhere, often in a temporary or informal place — like a couch or floor.

For teachers: to sleep in a temporary or informal location; typically British informal slang, often implying a short-term or unplanned stay.

## Examples

- He kipped down on the sofa after the party.
- The travelers kipped down on the campsite's grassy area to avoid the cold.
- With the hotel fully booked, the guests were forced to kip down on the lobby's uncomfortable couches.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He kipped down the sofa" but "He kipped down on the sofa" — the preposition 'on' is required; 'kip down' alone means to sleep, but the phrase requires a location particle.

## Usage notes

- followed by a location (often informal or temporary), and typically used in British English.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'sleep' (neutral) and 'rest' (more deliberate); 'kip down on' carries a casual, sometimes chaotic connotation absent in standard verbs.

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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.