Catch some Zs
Meaning
To sleep or get some rest.
Origin
The visual representation of sleep as "Zzz" first appeared in American comic strips and cartoons in the early 20th century. Cartoonists needed a simple, universally understood way to show a character was asleep, and the letter 'Z' phonetically mimicked the sound of snoring. It became a ubiquitous symbol, quickly transcending the comic panels to become a popular, playful shorthand in everyday language for the act of sleeping, allowing anyone to "catch some Zs."
Examples
- After that long hike, I really need to catch some Zs before dinner.
- The baby is finally catching some Zs, so I can get some work done.