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Glite Dictionary
in one's sleep

in one's sleep

3.9
Very easy to do without thinking
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : de memoria
  • You can do this in your sleep.

Examples

Synonyms

easily
vsin one's sleep
∞ 1.0

Without much effort

adds an informal, image-like sense of acting almost without thinking
effortlessly
vsin one's sleep
30 3.1

To do something without needing to try

uses an informal, image-based phrase instead of a neutral adverb
in your sleep
vsin one's sleep
  • Informal
6 2.7

Very easily, almost without thinking

is less direct and uses a more general, impersonal phrasing
in a breeze
vsin one's sleep
  • Informal
1 3.0

People do it very easily with little effort

focuses on ease without implying speed or quick completion
one hand tied behind one's back
vsin one's sleep
  • Informal
8.0

To do something easily even with serious problems

states ease in normal conditions rather than despite large handicaps

Antonyms

to try
∞ 1.0

To make an effort to do something difficult

to struggle
851 2.8

To try very hard to do or deal with something difficult

How Easy

in one's sleep
  • Informal
3.9
easily
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

in one's sleep positive

Morphology

in + one's + sleep

The sense 'very easily, effortlessly' is motivated by the literal composition 'in' + 'one's' + 'sleep' — doing something 'while asleep' evokes automaticity and lack of conscious effort. This is a metaphorical extension that is fairly predictable from the parts but requires recognition of non-literal use, so a B1 learner knowing the words could often infer it but not with full reliability.

Etymology

In one's sleep comes from the simple image of doing something while still sleeping, as if you could do it without waking. That's why it means 'very easily' or 'without thinking'.