PhrasesHub

I have not slept one wink

    Definitions

      • inability to sleep
        To convey the message that the person has not slept at all

    Examples of I have not slept one wink

    • I have been working on this project all night, and I have not slept one wink.

      This idiom is used when someone has not closed their eyes or fallen asleep even for a moment. In this example, the speaker has been working on their project for the entire night and has not closed their eyes or fallen asleep at all, essentially meaning that they have not slept for any amount of time.

    • The baby cried all night, and I have not slept one wink.

      In this example, the speaker means that the baby's crying kept them awake the entire night, causing them to not sleep at all.

    • I have been studying for my exams, and I have not slept one wink in the last three days.

      Here, the speaker is implying that they have been studying for an extended period without sleeping continuously for three days. In this context, 'one wink' refers to the brief closure of eyelids that occurs in a blink.

    • I have been waiting for you for hours, and I have not slept one wink.

      This example shows that the speaker has been waiting for someone for an extended period, during which time they have not fallen asleep at all. In this context, 'one wink' could also be interpreted as a brief nap, but in this case, the interpretation is that they have not slept at all.

    • The new CEO kept the executives up late with his endless stream of ideas at the board meeting last night. As a result, they all left the meeting feeling exhausted and saying that they've "not slept one wink."

      This idiomatic expression, "I have not slept one wink," is used to indicate that someone is extremely tired and has not slept at all. It's often used figuratively to express that someone has had a difficult time or been kept awake for a long period by some event or circumstance. In this example, the CEO's brainstorming session kept the executives awake all night, leaving them feeling drained and exhausted.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "I have not slept one wink" is used to emphasize the fact that someone has not been able to sleep at all. It can be used to express extreme exhaustion or frustration from not being able to sleep.

    This idiom is commonly used in informal conversations and is a simple and effective way to convey the message that someone has been unable to sleep.

    Origin of "I have not slept one wink"

    The origin of this idiom can be traced back to the early 16th century. The word "wink" in this context refers to a brief period of sleep or a nap. The idiom suggests that the person has not even been able to close their eyes for a moment, let alone sleep. It is believed to have originated from the literal meaning of the word "wink" as a brief closing of the eyes, and has evolved over time to convey the idea of not being able to sleep at all. An example of the idiom's usage can be found in Shakespeare's play "Much Ado About Nothing," where one of the characters exclaims, "I have not slept one wink" to express their inability to sleep.