turn in for the night

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "turn in for the night" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone is going to bed or retiring for the evening. Example: "After a long day at work, I decided to turn in for the night early."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

On the night of the accident the three had already shot one fox and were ready to turn in for the night when they decided to make one last visit to a field where one had earlier got away.

The Guardian

They toiled until Linda's fingers went black and she suggested they turn in for the night.

The Guardian

On the flip side, when you're trying to turn in for the night, try to keep your sleeping area dark.

Columbia University

On Friday, after a day of work, Representative Paul D. Ryan pretended to turn in for the night, walking through the front door of his home in Janesville, Wis.

The New York Times

Around 9 p.m., after a cocktail reception and dinner, Justice Scalia, who had flown to Texas early Friday, told Mr. Poindexter that he was going to turn in for the night, and went to the property's presidential suite.

The New York Times

By late 1999, the president felt so divided between his two billionaire friends that he once wound up leaving Mr. Burkle's home late one evening to turn in for the night at Mr. Geffen's nearby Beverly Hills home, all to avoid offending Mr. Geffen, one member of the president's entourage said, even though Mr. Geffen was out of town.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

There was something we had to do before turning in for the night, though.

The Guardian - Travel

We're in a modern mansion where servants of different ages and sexes have turned in for the night, leaving their shoes to be polished.

The New York Times

"You must be so proud of him," she said before kissing him on both cheeks and turning in for the night.

The New York Times

Spoiler alert: Everything comes out O.K., and the Pigeon finally turns in for the night, its sleep presumably untroubled by the burden of parental responsibility.

The New York Times - Books

Before turning in for the night, head to the Mercury Lounge, one of Nairobi's hippest places to grab a late-night drink (254-20-4451875; ABC Place, off Waiyaki Way).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "turn in for the night" when you want to indicate that someone is ending their day and going to sleep. It's appropriate for both narrative and conversational contexts.

Common error

While "turn in for the night" is widely understood, be mindful of your audience and the overall tone. In highly formal or technical writing, consider using a more direct phrase like "go to bed" or "retire for the evening".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "turn in for the night" functions as an idiomatic expression indicating the act of going to bed or retiring for the evening. It’s a common way to express the end of one's daily activities and the beginning of sleep, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "turn in for the night" is a commonly used idiomatic phrase that means to go to bed or retire for the evening. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and acceptability in everyday language. While it is frequently found in News & Media and general writing, it’s important to consider the context and audience when choosing this phrase, as more formal alternatives like "go to bed" or "retire for the evening" might be more suitable for certain situations. Use it to indicate the end of a day's activities and the beginning of sleep, keeping in mind its slightly informal tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

go to sleep

This is a direct and simple alternative, focusing on the act of falling asleep.

go to bed

This is another common and straightforward alternative, referring to the physical act of going to bed.

retire for the night

This alternative is more formal and suggests a deliberate act of withdrawing for the evening.

call it a night

This idiom suggests ending activities for the day and going to sleep.

hit the hay

This is an informal idiom for going to bed.

get some shut-eye

This phrase is informal and focuses on the act of closing one's eyes to sleep.

go nighty-night

This is a child-like and playful way of saying goodnight and going to sleep.

take to one's bed

Implies a formal or perhaps unwell retire to bed.

go to slumber

Implies beginning to fall into a state of sleep. Is more formal than "go to sleep".

rest one's head

A more poetic term to define going to bed.

FAQs

What does "turn in for the night" mean?

The phrase "turn in for the night" means to go to bed or retire for the evening. It suggests ending one's activities for the day and preparing to sleep.

What can I say instead of "turn in for the night"?

You can use alternatives like "go to bed", "retire for the night", or "call it a night" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is "turn in for the night" formal or informal?

"Turn in for the night" is generally considered a neutral to slightly informal expression. It is suitable for most everyday conversations and writing, but in very formal contexts, a more direct phrase like "go to bed" might be preferred.

How do I use "turn in for the night" in a sentence?

You can use "turn in for the night" to indicate that someone is going to sleep, for example, "After a long day of hiking, we decided to turn in for the night early."