sleeping on the mat

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sleeping on the mat" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is resting or taking a nap on a mat, often in a casual or informal context. Example: "After a long day of playing, the dog was found sleeping on the mat in the living room."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

When I left, he was sleeping on the mat in his underwear, the pictures of his life in a stack beside his head like a pillow.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The second model (i.e., factors related to indirect transmission and controlled for the potential confounding effect attributed to the number of different types of direct contact) showed that sleeping in the same hut (adjusted PPR = 2.34, 95% CI 1.13 to 4.84) and sleeping on the same mat (adjusted PPR = 2.93, 95% CI 1.16 to 7.38) were independent risk factors.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

Regarding indirect transmission, sleeping on the same mat (PPR = 2.78, 95% CI 1.15 to 6.70), participating in the ritual handwashing during the funeral ceremony (PPR = 2.25, 95% CI 1.08 to 4.72), and sharing a communal meal during the funeral ceremony (PPR = 2.84, 95% CI 1.35 to 5.98) were significantly associated with disease.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

They were sleeping on the ground without mats, they lacked water for bathing, the tents were unbearably hot, and they had no idea whether their homes and shops in Mingora were still standing.

Huffington Post

Infants sleep on the same mat as their parents – probably no infant in human history was ever left to cry itself to sleep in its own crib or bedroom before 10,000 years ago.

The Guardian - Opinion

In fact, the association found for having slept on the same mat or having shared meals with a sick person or with funeral participants remained after controlling for direct contact.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

I thought immediately of the Congo floor maggot, which feeds upon people sleeping on mats in their huts; it has been a huge advance in public health to get people there to stop sleeping on the ground.

Huffington Post

Gatwech found himself sleeping on a mat on the floor.

The Guardian

Until 16 years ago, when the Grameen miracle money arrived, she lived at her mother's home, sleeping on a mat on the floor and sharing a room with a neighbour's cow.

The Guardian - Business

Most had spent the last two nights sleeping on mats on the ground.

BBC

A bed had to be brought to an empty cell in our section - at the time we were sleeping on sisal mats on the floor, as all of us did for about 14 of the 18 year I spent with Mdala on Robben Island.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing living conditions or temporary shelters, use "sleeping on the mat" to convey a sense of basic or makeshift arrangements.

Common error

Avoid using "sleeping on the mat" when you mean sleeping under the mat, as this can create confusion. Be precise about the spatial relationship you intend to convey.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sleeping on the mat" functions primarily as a descriptive phrase, detailing the specific condition or location of someone sleeping. Ludwig examples show its use in describing basic living conditions or temporary accommodations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sleeping on the mat" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase, as validated by Ludwig AI. It describes the act of sleeping directly on a mat and often implies basic living conditions or temporary arrangements. It appears across various contexts, including news reports, scientific articles, and business documents, with the majority appearing in news media. When using this phrase, consider the imagery it evokes and ensure it aligns with your intended meaning. Alternatives like "resting on the mat" or "lying on the mat" can be used to provide a slight variation in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

asleep on the mat

States the condition of being asleep on the mat.

dozing on the mat

Replaces "sleeping" with "dozing", suggesting a lighter, less deep sleep.

napping on the mat

Replaces "sleeping" with "napping", suggesting a short sleep during the day.

slumbering on the mat

Replaces "sleeping" with "slumbering", implying a more gentle and peaceful sleep.

resting on the mat

Substitutes "sleeping" with "resting", indicating a broader sense of relaxation, not necessarily sleep.

taking a nap on the mat

Emphasizes the action of taking a nap, rather than just sleeping.

lying on the mat

Focuses on the physical act of lying down, without explicitly stating sleep.

bedded down on the mat

Implies settling down for the night on the mat.

reclining on the mat

Suggests a more relaxed and leisurely posture than simply "lying".

taking a siesta on the mat

Indicates taking an afternoon nap, especially in warmer climates.

FAQs

How can I use "sleeping on the mat" in a sentence?

You can use "sleeping on the mat" to describe a situation where someone is resting or sleeping directly on a mat, often due to lack of bedding or in temporary accommodation. For example: "During the emergency, many refugees were "sleeping on the mat" in the shelter".

What are some alternatives to "sleeping on the mat"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "resting on the mat", "lying on the mat", or "napping on the mat".

Is there a difference between "sleeping on the mat" and "sleeping on the floor"?

Yes, "sleeping on the mat" implies there is a mat providing some level of comfort or separation from the bare floor. "Sleeping on the floor" suggests there is no mat or bedding at all.

What kind of imagery does "sleeping on the mat" evoke?

The phrase "sleeping on the mat" often evokes imagery of simplicity, poverty, or temporary living arrangements, hinting at a lack of more comfortable bedding options.