nap

A very brief but restful period of sleep. I'm going to try to squeeze in a catnap before my next shift starts, or else I'll be feeling sluggish for the entire evening. We've got a pretty long layover before our next flight, so I'm going to try to catch a catnap at the gate. With a newborn at home, the best I can do is try to get in a catnap when I can.

A state of death or permanent cessation. He's got a lot of nerve to talk to me like that! I think he's looking for a dirt nap! The popular television show now appears headed for a dirt nap following the exit of its lead star. Don't worry, I'll make sure the informant takes a dirt nap before he's ever able to out our operation to the police.

To have five victories or scores. The phrase refers to "nap," a card game in which players take tricks after being dealt five cards. The other team's improved defense in the last part of the game is the only reason Smith didn't go nap. I was shocked when Miller-Jonson went nap today. He's not usually a big offensive threat. You have to have luck on your side to be able to go nap.

slang To be dead (and buried). A: "And what about the witnesses?" B: "Don't worry about them, boss—they're all having dirt naps." I really don't care what kind of box they put me in when I go to have my dirt nap. I'll make sure the informant has a dirt nap before he's ever able to out our operation to the police.

obsolete To not favor or particularly care for. Primarily heard in Australia. I don't go nap on such frivolity myself. I have always preferred order and discipline.

A very brief but restful period of sleep. I'm going to try to squeeze in a power nap before my next shift starts, or else I'll be feeling sluggish for the entire evening.

To sleep for a very brief but restful period of time. I'm going to try to take a catnap before my next shift starts, or else I'll be feeling sluggish for the entire evening. Julie gets up really early to do her writing before the kids wake up, then takes little catnaps throughout the day.

slang To be dead (and buried). A: "And what about the witnesses?" B: "Don't worry about them, boss—they're all taking dirt naps." I really don't care what kind of box they put me in when I go to take my dirt nap.

To sleep for a short period of time separate from one's primary period of sleeping, especially in the middle of the day. I think you should go take a nap. You look like you're about to fall asleep standing up! I haven't taken naps since I was a child.

To sleep for a very brief but restful period of time. I'm going to try to take a power nap before my next shift starts, or else I'll be feeling sluggish for the entire evening. Julie gets up really early to do her writing before the kids wake up, and then she takes little power naps throughout the day.

to come upon someone who is unprepared; to surprise someone. (See also asleep at the switch.) The enemy soldiers caught our army napping. The thieves caught the security guard napping. I didn't expect you so soon. You caught me off balance. The teacher asked a trick question and caught me up short. The robbers caught Ann off balance and stole her purse.

Sl. to die and be buried. I don't want to end up taking a dirt nap during this operation. Isn't Tom a little young to take a dirt nap?

to have a brief period of sleep. I took a short nap just after lunch. The baby takes a long nap each afternoon.

Surprise, take unawares. This term is often used in the passive, as in The United States was really caught napping the day the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. It originated in the mid-1500s as to be taken napping. Also see under off guard.

If someone is caught napping, they suffer a disadvantage by not being prepared for something when it happens. The security services were clearly caught napping and their response was therefore inadequate. European firms have been caught napping. As a result, they barely control one-tenth of the world market. Note: `Napping' means the same as sleeping or dozing.

To be surprised off guard, taken unawares. This term began life in the sixteenth century as to be taken napping. “Take Nappynge as Mosse toke his Meare” was the title of a 1569 ballad. The term was included in John Ray’s proverb collection of 1670, in which Ray commented, “Who this Moss was is not very material to know. I suppose some such man might find his mare dead, and taking her to be only asleep, might say, ‘Have I caught you napping?’” Yet Shakespeare and other sixteenth-century writers used the phrase in the modern sense of taking someone unawares; “Nay, I have ta’en you napping, gentle love,” Tranio says to Bianca (The Taming of the Shrew, 4.2).