sleep with one eye open

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English

Etymology

Some animals sleep with one eye open, so as to remain alert to threats.

Pronunciation

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Verb

sleep with one eye open (third-person singular simple present sleeps with one eye open, present participle sleeping with one eye open, simple past and past participle slept with one eye open)

  1. (figurative) To remain vigilant at all times, especially by remaining partially awake or sleeping only lightly so as to avoid being caught off guard.
    • 2019, “Brimstone”, performed by Whitechapel:
      Sleep with one eye open
      You have no idea what I'm capable of
      Keep claiming holier than thou
      My knife can stab more holes than you can count
      How dare you sleep where a king once slept
      And dry the tears of where his queen has wept

Translations

Further reading