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to kip down

to kip down

9.6
To sleep somewhere for a short time, often on a sofa
  • phrasal verb
  • /kɪp daʊn/
  • UK
translation icon : acostarse
  • Rather than finding a hotel, we chose to kip down in our sleeping bags under the stars.

Examples

  • You know what, I'll just kip down here in the reception

  • After a long day of traveling, I decided to kip down on the couch for a quick nap.

  • When he felt tired during the meeting, he thought about where he could kip down for a while.

Synonyms

to go to bed
vsto kip down
485 1.0

To get into bed to sleep

is used for sleeping temporarily often away from usual night routine
to go to sleep
vsto kip down
369 1.0

To stop being awake and rest with your eyes closed

focuses on sleeping temporarily in an unfamiliar place rather than starting to sleep
to turn in
vsto kip down
  • Informal
27 3.5

To go to bed to sleep

is more about preparing to sleep temporarily away from usual nightly place
to bed
vsto kip down
23 1.0

To give someone a place to sleep

focuses on arranging temporary sleeping space rather than general night rest
to retire
vsto kip down
  • Formal
16 5.8

Go to bed to sleep, usually at night

is for sleeping temporarily in an unusual place rather than formal nightly rest
to hit the sack
vsto kip down
  • Informal
10 6.0

To go to bed to sleep

is more for temporary or makeshift sleeping rather than usual night rest
to hit the hay
vsto kip down
  • Informal
8 6.0

To go to bed to sleep after a long day

is about sleeping temporarily in an odd place rather than regular nightly sleep
to bunk down
vsto kip down
  • Informal
5 6.8

To sleep in a temporary place like on the floor or in the living room

is for sleeping temporarily in an unusual place
to bed down
vsto kip down
4 4.5

To sleep in a temporary place like a barn or tent

is used for sleeping temporarily away from usual sleeping spot
to sack out
vsto kip down
  • Informal
4 7.5

To go to bed to sleep

is used for sleeping temporarily in an unusual place rather than regular night sleep
to hit the pillow
vsto kip down
  • Informal
4 3.7

To go to bed and fall asleep quickly because you are tired

implies sleeping temporarily in an odd place rather than rapid sleep at night
to crawl in
vsto kip down
  • Informal
3 3.3

To go to bed slowly because you feel very tired

is about sleeping temporarily in odd places rather than the slow tired manner
to hit the sheets
vsto kip down
  • Informal
1 8.6

To go to bed to sleep

is applied to sleeping temporarily in an unusual place not just routine rest
to doss down
vsto kip down
  • UK
9.5

To sleep somewhere that is not your usual bed, often in an uncomfortable place

is more about sleeping temporarily in an unfamiliar place
to kip
vsto kip down
  • UK
8.1

To sleep for a short time, often on a sofa

is specifically about preparing to sleep temporarily in odd places
to fall in the sack
vsto kip down
  • Informal
8.8

To go to bed or sleep

is mainly for temporary sleep in odd places rather than formal night rest

Antonyms

to stay up
  • Informal
253 2.4

To be awake later than usual

221 1.0

To make someone leave their bed or stand up

How Temporary

to crash
  • Informal
111 7.0
to kip down
  • UK
9.6
to sleep over
  • Informal
63 2.8
to stay
1.0
to move in
415 1.8

Surface Forms

kip down infinitive
kipping down present participle
kips down third person singular
kiped down past
kiped down past participle

Morphology

kip + down

The verb 'kip' already means to sleep, and the particle 'down' adds the sense of reclining/lying down, so the combined meaning 'go to sleep/lie down to sleep (often temporarily)' is directly derivable from the constituents. Although informal and regionally British, this verb + particle composition follows standard, cross-linguistically familiar patterns, making it transparent to a B1 learner who knows both words.

Etymology

Kip down comes from British slang where kip meant a short sleep or a cheap place to sleep. With down showing the idea of going down onto that bed, the phrase means 'to go to sleep' or 'to sleep somewhere for a short time'.