Hit the Hay Meaning, Synonyms, Examples

After a long, tiring day at work, all one wants to do is come home, have something to eat, and “hit the hay”, meaning they want to go to bed. This idiom has also become a popular slang, implying that a person is tired and wants to end the day. It is also used when you want to suggest someone else to do so. 

The phrase comes from the farm workers’ practice of sleeping on a bed of hay or a mattress stuffed with hay, which was common in the 19th century.

Usage With Examples

Here’s how you can use the idiom “hit the hay” in a sentence:

1. I have to get up early tomorrow, so I’m going to hit the hay now.
2. You look exhausted. Why don’t you hit the hay and get some rest?
3. We’ve been working hard all day. Let’s hit the hay and continue tomorrow.
4. It’s getting late and I have a big presentation tomorrow. I think I’ll hit the hay and finish the slides in the morning.
5. We had a lot of fun at the party, but it’s time to hit the hay. Thanks for inviting us.
6. She hit the hay as soon as she got home from her long flight. She was jet-lagged and needed some sleep.

Also Read: 150 Common: Difficult Idioms with Examples

Hit The Hay: Synonyms and Similar Words

Here are some words and phrases that have the same meaning as the idiom “Hit the Hay”:

1. Hit the sack: This is another way of saying go to bed, which also comes from the idea of sleeping on a sack of hay.
2. Turn in: This means to go to one’s bed or room, usually at night.
3. Get some shuteye: This is a slang expression for getting some sleep, which comes from the idea of closing one’s eyes.
4. Get some beauty sleep: This is a humorous way of saying go to sleep, which implies that sleeping will make one more attractive.
5. Visit club duvet: This is a British slang term for going to bed, which refers to a duvet, a type of bedding.
6. Catch some Z’s: This is an informal way of saying go to sleep, which comes from the sound of snoring.

Also Read: Keep Your Eyes Peeled Meaning, Examples, Synonyms

Hit the Hay Meaning Quiz

What does the idiom “hit the hay” mean?

A) To feed the animals 

B) To go to bed 

C) To work on a farm 

D) To throw a party

The correct answer is B) To go to bed.

We hope you understood the idiom’s “Hit the Hay” meaning, how to use it in a sentence, and some synonyms and phrases related to it. And keep following our Learn English page to learn idioms like these daily!