Slept Like a Log – Meaning, Origin & Usage

Have you ever heard the phrase ‘slept like a log’? It’s a frequently used idiom in the English language, and is familiar with both adults and children. It’s an odd saying because, as we know, logs don’t sleep. And if that doesn’t make too much sense to you, I can confirm that you’ve come to the perfect place…

In this article, we will cover what is meant by the phrase, when and where the phrase originated from, and how and when to use the phrase. You will also get a rundown of alternative phrases that you can use in its place if you prefer.

So, without further ado, let’s get down to it.

What is the meaning of the phrase ‘slept like a log’?

The saying ‘slept like a log’ is also an idiom, metaphor and simile. The phrase can also be adapted to present tense, that is ‘sleeping like a log’. The phrase ‘slept like a log’ simply means that someone has slept very well, and slept soundly in a deep, undisturbed sleep. 

What is the origin of the phrase ‘slept like a log’?

We know that the phrase ‘slept like a log’ has been around since at least the early 1800s, or possibly earlier, with there being several sightings of the phrase in print from this period in both the United States and in Europe as well.

There are several variations of this phrase that were used prior to this, such as ‘sleep as a swyn’ in Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, and ‘sleepe like a top’ in Shakespeare’s  The Two Noble Kinsmen.

The phrase is likely to be derived from the nature of a cut log, which will not move unless it is pushed. When someone sleeps so deeply that they don’t move, this often indicates that the individual is in a very deep, undisturbed sleep.

How and when to use the phrase ‘slept like a log’?

You can use the phrase ‘slept like a log’ whenever you have enjoyed a good, deep, undisturbed sleep. People typically ask someone how they’ve slept in the morning time, however if someone has had a nap or siesta during the day time. And if you have slept very well, this would be a great way to respond to the question.

Here follows some examples of instances where you may be asked how you’ve slept, where you may be able to respond with the phrase ‘slept like a log’ if you have slept very well.

• While travelling, e.g. on an aeroplane flight
• During a siesta on the continent
• During certain illnesses such as flu
• If you’ve been sleeping somewhere new, e.g. in a tent
• As a result of taking medication to help with sleep
• When you have an important day, e.g. if you have a job interview
• If you’ve recently had trouble sleeping, whether through having a bad time emotionally, or being in physical pain
• If you’ve been working shift work or putting a lot of hours in at work

While there are many specific instances that may prompt someone to ask how you’ve slept, sometimes you may be asked simply out of friendliness and courtesy. But you don’t have to wait to be asked to declare that you’ve slept like a log, if you’ve had a a great night’s sleep, there’s no reason not to declare it to anyone who’ll listen.

You can also use the phrase ‘slept like a log’ sarcastically, when it is clear that you haven’t slept very well at all.

What are some other ways of saying ‘slept like a log’?

If you’re  speaking with someone who may have trouble understanding English metaphors, such as a young child, then there are several alternative phrases that you can use in it’s place. Here are a few examples for you.

• I slept great, thanks
• I’ve never slept so well
• I had a perfect/great night’s sleep
• That sleep/nap did the trick.
• I slept like a baby
• I’m feeling much better after that nap/sleep

Final word

So, to sum up, the phrase ‘slept like a log’ means slept very well. It is usually used to refer to deep, undisturbed sleep. The phrase can also be adapted to the present to describe how someone is currently sleeping.

The precise origin of the phrase remains unsure, but we do know that it was being used in the United States and the United Kingdom in the 1800s when it appeared in print several times. The phrase is likely to be derived from the imagery of a log being incredibly still until it is disturbed.

The phrase can be used in several different contexts, but is mainly used in response to a question about how someone has slept.