Slept like a top

Posted by Henry on February 09, 2004

In Reply to: Slept like a top posted by Liz Atkin on February 09, 2004

: Can anyone give me a explaination of the origin of "I slept like a top" please.

: Liz.

Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
Sleep like a Top; When peg-tops and humming-tops are at the acme of their gyration they become so steady and quiet that they do not seem to move. In this state they are said to sleep. Soon they begin to totter, and the tipsy movement increases till they fall. The French say, Dormir comme un sabot, and Mon sabot dort.