Zonk out

Meaning

The idiom "zonk out" means to fall asleep suddenly and deeply, usually when one is tired or bored. It can also refer to losing consciousness due to injury or illness. The figurative meaning of the idiom is to become extremely tired or unresponsive.

Usage

• After working for 12 hours straight, John finally zoned out during the meeting.
• My daughter zonked out on the couch while watching TV.
• I don't think we can go on like this; it's making me feel totally zoned out.
• The traffic was so heavy that by the time we reached our destination, I was completely zoned out.
• My friend was so tired after the hike that she just zoned out and fell asleep in the car.

Roots and History

The idiom "zonk out" is believed to have originated from the early days of cinema. When films were silent, audiences would watch them on small screens in dimly lit theaters. If the film was too boring or poorly made, the audience would become restless and fall asleep. They would "zone out" during the movie. The idiom has been used since the 1920s and is still commonly used today.

Synonyms in English

• fall asleep
• doze off
• snooze
• drift off
• pass out

Synonyms in other languages

• Spanish: "caer en un sonambulo"
• French: "tomber dans le sommeil"
• German: "ins Schlafen fallen"
• Italian: "piangere" (to cry oneself to sleep)
• Japanese: "寝る" (to sleep)

Similar Idioms

• sleep on

• zero-sum game

• forty winks