to sleep on it
Idiom Definition:
"to sleep on it"
to postpone a decision in order to allow some time to think about the decision
to allow your subconscious to process a decision or problem during sleep
This farmer is literally sleeping on his big decision - - - - - 
Idiom Scenario 1:
Gail is in her last semester of high school. She has been accepted to attend three different colleges. Gail has been trying to make a decision for three weeks. She has looked at the benefits of each college. She has filled out all the application forms but still she is not able to make a decision. Gail is sitting at her desk staring at the forms when her mother says ...
Mother: "Gail, the deadline for application to college is tomorrow. You must make a decision."
Gail: "I know, Mom, but this is a difficult decision. I'm going to sleep on it tonight and make a decision tomorrow."
Idiom Scenario 2:
Martha has just received some fantastic news. After a series of job interviews and meetings and testing, Martha has been offered a wonderful new job. The new job has many more responsibilities that her current job. The new job also pays a much larger salary. One big challenge is that the new job is in a different city so Martha and her family would have to move. Whether or not to take the new job is a very very big decision.
Do you think that Martha should sleep on it for a couple of nights before making this big decision?
Idiom Scenario 3:
(Sometimes it is necessary to refresh your browser to see the news stories)
Which of these news stories is about:
- sleeping? (literal)
- thinking? (idiomatic)
Newsfeed supplied by: Google News
Alternate News Feed - (opens in a new tab)
Idiom Usage:
It is possible to sleep on it for several nights.
In the imperative:
"Sleep on it!"
Gerund Form of the Idiom:
Sleeping on a major decision can often result in wise decisions.
Idiom Conjugations:
to sleep on it
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I sleep on it when there is a major decision to make. |
I do not sleep on it when there is a major decision to make. |
Do I sleep on it when there is a major decision to make? |
| Second-singular (you) | You sleep on it if you want to postpone a big decision. |
You do not sleep on it unless you want to postpone a big decision. |
Do you sleep on it if you want to postpone a big decision? |
| Third-singular (he) | He sleeps on it when he has a problem he can not solve. |
He does not sleep on it when he has a problem he can not solve. |
Does he sleep on it when he has a problem he can not solve? |
| Third-singular (she) | She sleeps on it when she needs to determine how to restructure the office. |
She does not sleep on it when she needs to determine how to restructure the office. |
Does she sleep on it when she needs to determine how to restructure the office? |
| Third-singular (it) | not applicable |
not applicable |
not applicable |
| First-plural (we) | We sleep on it when we are not sure of the outcome. |
We do not sleep on it when we are not sure of the outcome. |
Do we sleep on it when we are not sure of the outcome? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) sleep on it because you (all) want to allow your subconscious minds an opportunity to process the information. |
You (all) do not sleep on it unless you (all) want to allow your subconscious minds an opportunity to process the information. |
Do you (all) sleep on it because you (all) want to allow your subconscious minds an opportunity to process the information? |
| Third-plural (they) | They sleep on it when they are presented with a life changing decision. |
They do not sleep on it when they are presented with a life changing decision. |
Do they sleep on it when they are presented with a life changing decision? |
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | not applicable |
not applicable |
not applicable |
| Second-singular (you) | not applicable |
not applicable |
not applicable |
| Third-singular (he) | He is sleeping on the big decision right now. |
He is not sleeping on the big decision right now. |
Is he sleeping on the big decision right now? |
| Third-singular (she) | She is sleeping on the big decision right now. |
She is not sleeping on the big decision right now. |
Is she sleeping on the big decision right now? |
| Third-singular (it) | not applicable |
not applicable |
not applicable |
| First-plural (we) | not applicable |
not applicable |
not applicable |
| Second-plural (you all) | not applicable |
not applicable |
not applicable |
| Third-plural (they) | They are sleeping on the big decision right now. |
They are not sleeping on the big decision right now. |
Are they sleeping on the big decision right now? |
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I have slept on the big decision and come to a resolution. |
I have not slept on the big decision and come to a resolution. |
Have I slept on the big decision and come to a resolution? |
| Second-singular (you) | You have slept on the big decision and come to a resolution. |
You have not slept on the big decision and come to a resolution. |
Have you slept on the big decision and come to a resolution? |
| Third-singular (he) | He has slept on the big decision and come to a resolution. |
He has not slept on the big decision and come to a resolution. |
Has he slept on the big decision and come to a resolution? |
| Third-singular (she) | She has slept on the big decision and come to a resolution. |
She has not slept on the big decision and come to a resolution. |
Has she slept on the big decision and come to a resolution? |
| Third-singular (it) | not applicable |
not applicable |
not applicable |
| First-plural (we) | We have slept on the big decision and come to a resolution. |
We have not slept on the big decision and come to a resolution. |
Have we slept on the big decision and come to a resolution? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) have slept on the big decision and come to a resolution. |
You (all) have not slept on the big decision and come to a resolution. |
Have you (all) slept on the big decision and come to a resolution? |
| Third-plural (they) | They have slept on the big decision and come to a resolution. |
They have not slept on the big decision and come to a resolution. |
Have they slept on the big decision and come to a resolution? |
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I have been sleeping on it for several nights now. |
I have not been sleeping on it for several nights now. |
Have I been sleeping on it for several nights now? |
| Second-singular (you) | You have been sleeping on it for several nights now. |
You have not been sleeping on it for several nights now. |
Have you been sleeping on it for several nights now? |
| Third-singular (he) | He has been sleeping on it for several nights now. |
He has not been sleeping on it for several nights now. |
Has he been sleeping on it for several nights now? |
| Third-singular (she) | She has been sleeping on it for several nights now. |
She has not been sleeping on it for several nights now. |
Has she been sleeping on it for several nights now? |
| Third-singular (it) | not applicable |
not applicable |
not applicable |
| First-plural (we) | We have been sleeping on it for several nights now. |
We have not been sleeping on it for several nights now. |
Have we been sleeping on it for several nights now? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) have been sleeping on it for several nights now. |
You (all) have not been sleeping on it for several nights now. |
Have you (all) been sleeping on it for several nights now? |
| Third-plural (they) | They have been sleeping on it for several nights now. |
They have not been sleeping on it for several nights now. |
Have they been sleeping on it for several nights now? |
to sleep on it
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I slept on the problem last night. |
I did not sleep on the problem last night. |
Did I sleep on the problem last night? |
| Second-singular (you) | You slept on the problem last night. |
You did not sleep on the problem last night. |
Did you sleep on the problem last night? |
| Third-singular (he) | He slept on the problem last night. |
He did not sleep on the problem last night. |
Did he sleep on the problem last night? |
| Third-singular (she) | She slept on the problem last night. |
She did not sleep on the problem last night. |
Did she sleep on the problem last night? |
| Third-singular (it) | not applicable |
not applicable |
not applicable |
| First-plural (we) | We slept on the problem last night. |
We did not sleep on the problem last night. |
Did we sleep on the problem last night? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) slept on the problem last night. |
You (all) did not sleep on the problem last night. |
Did you (all) sleep on the problem last night? |
| Third-plural (they) | They slept on the problem last night. |
They did not sleep on the problem last night. |
Did they sleep on the problem last night? |
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I was sleeping on it last night when suddenly the solution became apparent. |
I was not sleeping on it last night. |
Was I sleeping on it last night when suddenly the solution became apparent? |
| Second-singular (you) | You were sleeping on it last night when suddenly the solution became apparent. |
You were not sleeping on it last night. |
Were you sleeping on it last night when suddenly the solution became apparent? |
| Third-singular (he) | He was sleeping on it last night when suddenly the solution became apparent. |
He was not sleeping on it last night. |
Was he sleeping on it last night when suddenly the solution became apparent? |
| Third-singular (she) | She was sleeping on it last night when suddenly the solution became apparent. |
She was not sleeping on it last night. |
Was she sleeping on it last night when suddenly the solution became apparent? |
| Third-singular (it) | not applicable |
not applicable |
not applicable |
| First-plural (we) | We were sleeping on it last night when suddenly the solution became apparent. |
We were not sleeping on it last night. |
Were we sleeping on it last night when suddenly the solution became apparent? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) were sleeping on it last night when suddenly the solution became apparent. |
You (all) were not sleeping on it last night. |
Were you (all) sleeping on it last night when suddenly the solution became apparent? |
| Third-plural (they) | They were sleeping on it last night when suddenly the solution became apparent. |
They were not sleeping on it last night. |
Were they sleeping on it last night when suddenly the solution became apparent? |
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I had slept on it before the problem was solved. |
I had not slept on it before the problem was solved. |
Had I slept on it before the problem was solved? |
| Second-singular (you) | You had slept on it before the problem was solved. |
You had not slept on it before the problem was solved. |
Had you slept on it before the problem was solved? |
| Third-singular (he) | He had slept on it before the problem was solved. |
He had not slept on it before the problem was solved. |
Had he slept on it before the problem was solved? |
| Third-singular (she) | She had slept on it before the problem was solved. |
She had not slept on it before the problem was solved. |
Had she slept on it before the problem was solved? |
| Third-singular (it) | not applicable |
not applicable |
not applicable |
| First-plural (we) | We had slept on it before the problem was solved. |
We had not slept on it before the problem was solved. |
Had we slept on it before the problem was solved? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) had slept on it before the problem was solved. |
You (all) had not slept on it before the problem was solved. |
Had you (all) slept on it before the problem was solved? |
| Third-plural (they) | They had slept on it before the problem was solved. |
They had not slept on it before the problem was solved. |
Had they slept on it before the problem was solved? |
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I had been sleeping on the problem for three nights before the solution became apparent. |
I had not been sleeping on the problem for three nights before the solution became apparent. |
Had I been sleeping on the problem for three nights before the solution became apparent? |
| Second-singular (you) | You had been sleeping on the problem for three nights before the solution became apparent. |
You had not been sleeping on the problem for three nights before the solution became apparent. |
Had you been sleeping on the problem for three nights before the solution became apparent? |
| Third-singular (he) | He had been sleeping on the problem for three nights before the solution became apparent. |
He had not been sleeping on the problem for three nights before the solution became apparent. |
Had he been sleeping on the problem for three nights before the solution became apparent? |
| Third-singular (she) | She had been sleeping on the problem for three nights before the solution became apparent. |
She had not been sleeping on the problem for three nights before the solution became apparent. |
Had she been sleeping on the problem for three nights before the solution became apparent? |
| Third-singular (it) | not applicable |
not applicable |
not applicable |
| First-plural (we) | We had been sleeping on the problem for three nights before the solution became apparent. |
We had not been sleeping on the problem for three nights before the solution became apparent. |
Had we been sleeping on the problem for three nights before the solution became apparent? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) had been sleeping on the problem for three nights before the solution became apparent. |
You (all) had not been sleeping on the problem for three nights before the solution became apparent. |
Had you (all) been sleeping on the problem for three nights before the solution became apparent? |
| Third-plural (they) | They had been sleeping on the problem for three nights before the solution became apparent. |
They had not been sleeping on the problem for three nights before the solution became apparent. |
Had they been sleeping on the problem for three nights before the solution became apparent? |
to sleep on it
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I will sleep on it tonight. I am going to sleep on it tonight. |
I will not sleep on it tonight. I am not going to sleep on it tonight. |
Will I sleep on it tonight? Am I going to sleep on it tonight? |
| Second-singular (you) | You will sleep on it tonight. You are going to sleep on it tonight. |
You will not sleep on it tonight. You are not going to sleep on it tonight. |
Will you sleep on it tonight? Are you going to sleep on it tonight? |
| Third-singular (he) | He will sleep on it tonight. He is going to sleep on it tonight. |
He will not sleep on it tonight. He is not going to sleep on it tonight. |
Will he sleep on it tonight? Is he going to sleep on it tonight? |
| Third-singular (she) | She will sleep on it tonight. She is going to sleep on it tonight. |
She will not sleep on it tonight. She is not going to sleep on it tonight. |
Will she sleep on it tonight? Is she going to sleep on it tonight? |
| Third-singular (it) | not applicable |
not applicable |
not applicable |
| First-plural (we) | We will sleep on it tonight. We are going to sleep on it tonight. |
We will not sleep on it tonight. We are not going to sleep on it tonight. |
Will we sleep on it tonight? Are we going to sleep on it tonight? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) will sleep on it tonight. You (all) are going to sleep on it tonight. |
You (all) will not sleep on it tonight. You (all) are not going to sleep on it tonight. |
Will you (all) sleep on it tonight? Are you (all) going to sleep on it tonight? |
| Third-plural (they) | They will sleep on it tonight. They are going to sleep on it tonight. |
They will not sleep on it tonight. They are not going to sleep on it tonight. |
Will they sleep on it tonight? Are they going to sleep on it tonight? |
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I will be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights. I am going to be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights. |
I will not be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights. I am not going to be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights. |
Will I be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights? Am I going to be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights? |
| Second-singular (you) | You will be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights. You are going to be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights. |
You will not be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights. You are not going to be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights. |
Will you be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights? Are you going to be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights? |
| Third-singular (he) | He will be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights. He is going to be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights. |
He will not be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights. He is not going to be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights. |
Will he be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights? Is he going to be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights? |
| Third-singular (she) | She will be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights. She is going to be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights. |
She will not be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights. She is not going to be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights. |
Will she be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights? Is she going to be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights? |
| Third-singular (it) | not applicable |
not applicable |
not applicable |
| First-plural (we) | We will be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights. We are going to be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights. |
We will not be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights. We are not going to be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights. |
Will we be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights? Are we going to be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) will be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights. You (all) are going to be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights. |
You (all) will not be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights. You (all) are not going to be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights. |
Will you (all) be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights? Are you (all) going to be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights? |
| Third-plural (they) | They will be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights. They are going to be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights. |
They will not be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights. They are not going to be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights. |
Will they be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights? Are they going to be sleeping on it for the next couple of nights? |
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I will have slept on it by tomorrow morning. I am going to have slept on it by tomorrow morning. |
I will not have slept on it by tomorrow morning. I am not going to have slept on it by tomorrow morning. |
Will I have slept on it by tomorrow morning? Am I going to have slept on it by tomorrow morning? |
| Second-singular (you) | You will have slept on it by tomorrow morning. You are going to have slept on it by tomorrow morning. |
You will not have slept on it by tomorrow morning. You are not going to have slept on it by tomorrow morning. |
Will you have slept on it by tomorrow morning? Are you going to have slept on it by tomorrow morning? |
| Third-singular (he) | He will have slept on it by tomorrow morning. He is going to have slept on it by tomorrow morning. |
He will not have slept on it by tomorrow morning. He is not going to have slept on it by tomorrow morning. |
Will he have slept on it by tomorrow morning? Is he going to have slept on it by tomorrow morning? |
| Third-singular (she) | She will have slept on it by tomorrow morning. She is going to have slept on it by tomorrow morning. |
She will not have slept on it by tomorrow morning. She is not going to have slept on it by tomorrow morning. |
Will she have slept on it by tomorrow morning? Is she going to have slept on it by tomorrow morning? |
| Third-singular (it) | not applicable |
not applicable |
not applicable |
| First-plural (we) | We will have slept on it by tomorrow morning. We are going to have slept on it by tomorrow morning. |
We will not have slept on it by tomorrow morning. We are not going to have slept on it by tomorrow morning. |
Will we have slept on it by tomorrow morning? Are we going to have slept on it by tomorrow morning? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) will have slept on it by tomorrow morning. You (all) are going to have slept on it by tomorrow morning. |
You (all) will not have slept on it by tomorrow morning. You (all) are not going to have slept on it by tomorrow morning. |
Will you (all) have slept on it by tomorrow morning? Are you (all) going to have slept on it by tomorrow morning?
|
| Third-plural (they) | They will have slept on it by tomorrow morning. They are going to have slept on it by tomorrow morning. |
They will not have slept on it by tomorrow morning. They are not going to have slept on it by tomorrow morning. |
Will they have slept on it by tomorrow morning? Are they going to have slept on it by tomorrow morning? |
| PERSON | idiom in the positive | idiom in the negative | idiom as a question |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-singular (I) | I will have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made. I am going to have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made. |
I will not have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made. I am not going to have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made. |
Will I have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made? Am I going to have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made? |
| Second-singular (you) | You will have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made. You are going to have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made. |
You will not have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made. You are not going to have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made. |
Will you have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made? Are you going to have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made? |
| Third-singular (he) | He will have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made. He is going to have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made. |
He will not have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made. He is not going to have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made. |
Will he have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made? Is he going to have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made? |
| Third-singular (she) | She will have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made. She is going to have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made. |
She will not have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made. She is not going to have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made. |
Will she have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made? Is she going to have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made? |
| Third-singular (it) | not applicable |
not applicable |
not applicable |
| First-plural (we) | We will have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made. We are going to have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made. |
We will not have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made. We are not going to have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made. |
Will we have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made? Are we going to have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made? |
| Second-plural (you all) | You (all) will have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made. You (all) are going to have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made. |
You (all) will not have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made. You (all) are not going to have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made. |
Will you (all) have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made? Are you (all) going to have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made? |
| Third-plural (they) | They will have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made. They are going to have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made. |
They will not have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made. They are not going to have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made. |
Will they have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made? Are they going to have been sleeping on it for a couple of night before a decision is made? |
