be sound asleep

Idioms are generally defined as groups of words that form a meaningful whole when they come together, even though the words in them do not make sense on their own. They have produced many idioms according to their own cultural characteristics in communities using the English language. What does be sound asleep mean? In what situations is be sound asleep used?

Meaning of "be sound asleep"

Meaning

The idiom to be sound asleep means to be deeply and soundly asleep, so that you cannot be awakened easily. Generally, this phrase is used to describe someone who is sleeping so deeply that they will not or cannot be woken up. It can also be used in a more figurative sense to mean that someone is unaware or oblivious to something, being asleep to the situation.

Etymology

The phrase “to be sound asleep” is not found in written English until the nineteenth century, when it first appears in the poem “The Kings Grave” by Walter Scott, published in 1850. This phrase is likely derived from the older phrase “to sleep sound,” which dates to the fifteenth century.

Usage

The phrase “to be sound asleep” is most commonly used to describe someone who is sleeping so deeply and soundly that they cannot be awoken. It can also be used to describe someone who is oblivious to or unaware of a situation, being asleep to it. Additionally, this phrase can be used to indicate that someone is no longer in a certain state or situation, such as being sound asleep to the idea of their own mortality or sound asleep to their own vulnerability.

Example Sentences

• He was sound asleep, and no amount of shouting could wake him.
• She was sound asleep to the fact that she was being taken advantage of.
• The whole family was sound asleep when the tornado hit.
• They were sound asleep to the dangers of the situation.

The universal role of idioms

"Kill two birds with one stone" is an English idiom that means to accomplish two things with a single action. In French, the similar idiom is "Faire d'une pierre deux coups," which translates to "To kill two birds with one stone." This idiom highlights the efficiency of completing two tasks with one action.