Idiom
Hit the Sack / Hit the Hay: Origin and Meaning
Meaning
To go to bed.
Origin
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, people used to sleep on a cloth sack stuffed with hay. Before they went to bed, they would literally ‘hit the hay’ to make the mattress more comfortable and to make sure there were no bugs inside. The expression ‘hit the sack’ is thought to have originated from the sack that was stuffed with hay.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, people used to sleep on a cloth sack stuffed with hay. Before they went to bed, they would literally ‘hit the hay’ to make the mattress more comfortable and to make sure there were no bugs inside. The expression ‘hit the sack’ is thought to have originated from the sack that was stuffed with hay.Examples
“I’m exhausted. I think it’s time for me to hit the sack.”
“Hey Steve, you look terrible! What time did you hit the hay last night?”
Claire: “Come on Paul, time for bed.”
Paul: “But it’s before midnight! You don’t really think I’m going to hit the sack this early do you?”
Claire: “Fine, but remember we have to wake up at 5 tomorrow!”
“Hey Steve, you look terrible! What time did you hit the hay last night?”
Claire: “Come on Paul, time for bed.”
Paul: “But it’s before midnight! You don’t really think I’m going to hit the sack this early do you?”
Claire: “Fine, but remember we have to wake up at 5 tomorrow!”
