WORDS, PHRASES AND IDIOMS TO DO WITH SLEEP AND DREAMS.

Vocabulary building: Words, phrases and idioms to do with sleep and dreams. Questions to practise using these in context, with notes on informal phrases.

1. What time do you usually go to bed?
2. Do you enjoy sleeping? Why? Why not?
3. Have you ever overslept? If so, what happened? 
4. Is it difficult for you to fall asleep?What do you usually do to help you fall asleep?
5. Do you snore?
6. Have you ever fallen asleep in class?
7. Have you ever pulled an all-nighter?
8. How often do you recall your dreams upon awakening?
9. Have you ever dreamed that you died?
10. Do you have any sleep disorders ?a) isomnia b)sleep apnea c)sleep talking?
11. What makes you toss and turn at night?
12. How many hours sleep do you normally have? How do you feel if you don't get this amount?
13. What language do you speak in your dreams?
14. How often do you remember your dreams?
15. Some people say that dreams are unconscious messages or predictions of the future. What do you think? Do you believe in premonitory dreams?
16. In some parts of the world the heat reaches its peak in the afternoon and it becomes too hot to be outside, so people take the siesta. Do you have this custom in your country?
17. On average, how many hours of sleep do you usually get?
18. Do you sleep soundly (like a log) or do you have a light sleep?
19. 19.Have you ever been to a pyjama^BrE/pajama^AmE party? 
20. 20. Walt Disney once said that “A dream is a wish our heart makes". Do you agree? 
21. What steps are you taking to make your dreams come true?
22. Have you ever been to a slumber party?
23.  Are you a habitual nap-taker? 
24. In your opinion, are naps good of you? If so, what are some of its benefits?

Useful Language

1. to fall asleep= to begin sleeping

To be asleep is the opposite of to be awake.

2)When you want to sleep, you:

• feel sleepy ( =ready for or in need of sleep)
• feel drowsy
• be/ feel half-asleep

3) If you have problems to fall asleep/ while sleeping, you may:

• have sleep apnoea
• have nightmares (=bad dreams)
• have/ suffer from insomnia
• sleep badly 
• sleepwalk
• wake up in the middle of the night.
• toss and turn in bed (= e.g.I tossed and turned last night because I am stressed.
• take sleeping pills( =to take medicine to help you fall asleep)
• snore
• have bruxism
• be a night owl (=a person who often stays up late at night.)

4)When you very sleep well, you:

• have a good night sleep
• have sweet dreams
• sleep non-stop
• sleep like a log
• sleep like a rock
• sleep soundly

5) To sleep longer than usual. 

• sleep in= You do this deliberately. e.g I usually sleep in on Sundays.
• oversleep.= It means that you were so deeply asleep that you simply did not wake up in time.

6) When you remain awake during the night

• pull an all-nighter= remain awake all night long, especially so as to study or to complete something. 
• not to get a wink of sleep. e.g.My baby is ill, so I didn’t manage to get a wink of sleep last night.

7) When you sleep for a short time, you:

• take a nap= a light sleep
• snooze
• catch forty winks ( e.g I was so tired at lunch time that I just wanted to put my feet up and catch forty winks before going back to work
• catnap
• to doze off (informal)=a short sleep during the day 
• doze lightly

8. Products for better sleeping

• pillow
• blanket, 
• sheet, 
• bed, 
• cradle (= a small bed for a baby)
• hammock
• bunkbeds ( =two beds attached together, one on top of the other)

9 Before you go to bed, you: 

• say goodnight to someone
• kiss someone good night.

10) Social occasion (especially for children/teenagers)

• slumber party/ sleepover party/ overnight party 
• e.g.My 12-year-old daughter is having a slumber party tonight.

11) Common gestures you make, when you wake up:

• yawn = open your mouth 
• stretch=  make your arms and legs straight to exercise the joints.

12) dream about Vs dream of

dream about=  have mental pictures while asleep.

dream of=  think about something that you want very much. You are awake (e.g. I dream of becoming a doctor.)