sleep like a log

Meaning

This idiom means to sleep very deeply and soundly, without waking up during the night. It is used in casual conversations to describe a night of uninterrupted, heavy sleep, often after being very tired or physically active.

Examples

• I was so exhausted after the hike that I slept like a log for ten hours.

  I was so exhausted after the hike that I slept like a log for ten hours.

• The baby finally fell asleep and is sleeping like a log now.

  The baby finally fell asleep and is sleeping like a log now.

• Nothing can wake him up once he's out; he sleeps like a log.

  Nothing can wake him up once he's out; he sleeps like a log.

• Did you hear the thunderstorm last night? No, I slept like a log.

  Did you hear the thunderstorm last night? No, I slept like a log.

• I usually sleep like a log, but last night the traffic kept me awake.

  I usually sleep like a log, but last night the traffic kept me awake.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I slept like a dog last night.

  ✓ I slept like a log last night.

  While some languages use animals in this context, the correct and common English idiom is 'sleep like a log' (or 'sleep like a baby').

• ✗ I was sleeping very hard like a log.

  ✓ I was sleeping like a log.

  Do not combine 'sleeping hard' with 'like a log'. Keep the idiom simple: just use the verb 'sleep' followed by 'like a log'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• After working a double shift, she went straight to bed and ___.

  💡 past tense of sleep

  Show answer

  slept like a log

• I envy you because you always ___ no matter how noisy it is.

  💡 present tense

  Show answer

  sleep like a log