“What is the meaning and origin of ‘to hit the sack’?” (reader Q&A)
“To hit the sack” is an informal English idiom meaning “go to bed,” with a commonly cited World War II-linked explanation for how “sack” became tied to sleeping.
GS1The HinduGS1English idiomsetymologyto hit the hay
Meaning of “to hit the sack”
“To hit the sack” means “go to bed” — go to sleep. It is informal everyday speech.
Earlier related expression and bedding-word pattern
“To hit the hay” is an older, closely related expression with the same “hit + bedding item” pattern. “Hay” is bedding material, and the phrase conveys the idea of lying down to sleep.
