Forty winks

Meaning

The idiom "forty winks" is used to describe a short period of time, often less than 5 minutes. It is believed to have originated from the idea that if you fall asleep within forty winks (the blinks it takes to close your eyes), you'll dream about chickens. This idiom can be used in both positive and negative contexts, depending on whether the short period of time is pleasant or not.

Usage

• "I only have twenty minutes for lunch today, but I think I can squeeze in forty winks." - In this context, the speaker is expressing that they want to take a break during their lunch break and rest for just a few moments before continuing with their day.
• "We'll be done with this project within forty winks. Let's wrap it up soon." - In this context, the speaker is expressing that they are close to finishing the project and can do so quickly if everyone works efficiently.
• "I hope I don't fall asleep during the meeting. It'll be embarrassing to nod off after only forty winks." - In this context, the speaker is expressing concern about falling asleep during a meeting that may not be interesting, and they don't want it to appear as if they are disengaged from the topic at hand.
• "I need forty winks to finish this homework assignment." - In this context, the speaker is expressing that they have a lot of work left to do and will need a short break before they can continue working on it.
• "This test is too hard! I don't think I'll be able to finish within forty winks." - In this context, the speaker is expressing frustration with the difficulty of the test and that they may not have enough time to complete it before the deadline.

Roots and History

The origin of the idiom "forty winks" is uncertain, but it is believed to have originated from the idea that if you fall asleep within forty blinks, you'll dream about chickens. There are several theories as to why this would be the case, including the fact that chickens were often used in rural areas and associated with sleepiness or the idea that chickens had a strange, otherworldly quality that could make people dream of them. However, there is no concrete evidence supporting these theories. Over time, the meaning of the idiom has evolved to simply refer to a short period of time, regardless of whether it's pleasant or not. The emphasis on falling asleep within forty blinks has been lost over time, and the idiom is now used more broadly to describe any short period of time.

Synonyms in English

• A few minutes
• Moments
• Briefly
• Quickly
• Rapidly

Synonyms in other languages

• French: "En quelques minutes" - This idiom is similar to "a few minutes" in English and can be used to describe a short period of time.
• Spanish: "A corto plazo" - This idiom is similar to "briefly" in English and can be used to describe a short period of time.
• German: "In kurzer Zeit" - This idiom is similar to "quickly" in English and can be used to describe a short period of time.
• Italian: "In poco tempo" - This idiom is similar to "rapidly" in English and can be used to describe a short period of time.
• Japanese: "簡単に" - This idiom is similar to "easily" in English and can be used to describe an action that can be done quickly without much difficulty.

Similar Idioms

• time will tell

• come full circle

• seventh heaven