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sleeper

sleeper

12 5.3
Something that becomes popular later than people expect
  • noun
  • /ˈsliːpər/
: éxito inesperado
  • 'The Hundred Year Old Man Who ...' is the sleeper hit of 2012.
  • a sleeper hit
  • a sleeper movie
  • become a sleeper

This is the greatest sleeper PC that we have ever made.

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Examples

  • I like the "George is a sleeper hit" angle.

    Blog text (10)

  • If the Cadets can get into the state playoffs, label them one dangerous sleeper.

    Blog text (17)

  • Make no mistake about it, End of Watch is one of the sleeper films.

    Blog text (33)

  • Leather link, you are a sleeper hit and why did nobody tell me about how cool this was?

  • May I present to you the winners of this battle and the surprise sleeper crew of this competition.

    Step Up All In (2014)

  • Want You to Want Me Eye Shadow Palette is a little sleeper hit.

    Blog text (31)

  • But anybody who's played Metro 2033 could probably tell you it was the sleeper hit of 2010 and an amazing experience.

    Blog text (22)

  • He'll be a sleeper favorite on draft day, and he's a great late pick in NL-only leagues.

    Blog text (4)

  • But for the long haul, it appears as though they've bet on a lineup filled with sleepers.

    Blog text (17)

  • The unexpected success of the indie film quickly turned it into a sleeper hit that garnered critical acclaim.

Synonyms

hit
vssleeper
654 1.3

Something very popular and successful, like a song or show

becomes successful unexpectedly rather than as an obvious immediate success
up-and-comer
vssleeper
12 6.0

A person who is becoming successful and well known

becomes unexpectedly successful now, rather than still just rising
sensation overnight
vssleeper
1 4.8

A person or thing that becomes very famous very quickly

becomes successful unexpectedly and not always so abruptly

Antonyms

failure
710 1.3

Not reaching what was planned or expected

flop
31 4.3

A project or event that does not succeed

Compounds

sleeper cell
  • NSFW
9 8.9

A secret group of people who stay inactive until told to attack or spy

sleeper cell
  • Specialized
1 7.5

A hidden program in a computer network that stays inactive until activated to do harm

rough sleeper
  • UK
1 7.1

A person who sleeps outside because they have no home

sleeper goby
  • Australian
9.5

A small tropical fish that rests quietly on the shallow sandy bottom

sleeper nest
  • NSFW
9.9

A hidden group of people who stay inactive until they get orders to do illegal or violent acts

How Successful

blockbuster
80 2.6
hit
654 1.3
sleeper
12 5.3
unknown
520 2.3

Surface Forms

sleeper singular
sleepers plural

Morphology

sleeper = sleep (semi-transparent) = sleep + er

The sense 'unexpectedly successful' is a metaphorical extension from 'sleep' (unnoticed/inactive), so the relation is not directly inferable for all learners.

Etymology

Sleeper comes from the root sleep 'to rest'. A helpful way to remember a sleeper hit is to think of something that was 'sleeping' (quiet and not noticed) and then 'wakes up' to become popular.