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The meaning and origin of the expression: I have not slept one wink

I have not slept one wink

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What's the meaning of the phrase 'I have not slept one wink'?

I have not slept at all.

What's the origin of the phrase 'I have not slept one wink'?

The meaning and origin of the phrase 'I have not slept one wink'The notion of getting not even a single moment's sleep has been in the language since the 14th century. Robert Manning of Brunne, in his work Handlyng synne, 1303, records the phrase in Middle English:

"Ne mete ete, ne drank drynke, Ne slepte onely a-lepy wynke."

In language that is a little more accessible to most readers in the 21st century we have Shakespeare's use of the idea in Cymbeline, 1611:

PISANIO:
O gracious lady,
Since I received command to do this business
I have not slept one wink.

Gary Martin - the author of the phrases.org.uk website.

By Gary Martin

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

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