After hiking all day, I was so exhausted that I slept like a log and didn’t wake up once during the night.
word origin — From the 1800s — a heavy log lies still on the ground without moving, like a person in extremely deep sleep.
sleep like a log, chew the scenery, sweep someone off their feet, bury the hatchet, go down like a lead balloon: meanings and examples
Learn these 5 idioms from Idioms set 89. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.
sleep like a log · idiom/slip laɪk ə lɔɡ/
to sleep very deeply and soundly
After hiking all day, I was so exhausted that I slept like a log and didn’t wake up once during the night.
Origin: From the 1800s — a heavy log lies still on the ground without moving, like a person in extremely deep sleep.
chew the scenery · idiom/tʃu ðə ˈsinɚi/
to overact or behave dramatically
The actor was supposed to deliver a simple speech, but instead, he chewed the scenery with an over-the-top performance.
Origin: From American theater in the 1890s — bad actors over-emoted so violently they appeared to chew the painted scenery.
sweep someone off their feet · idiom/swip ˈsʌmwʌn ɔf ðɛr fit/
to make someone fall in love or be deeply impressed
From the moment they met, he swept her off her feet with his charm and kindness.
Origin: From the 1700s — captures the sensation of romantic love so strong it lifts a person physically off the ground.
bury the hatchet · idiom/ˈbɛri ðə ˈhætʃɪt/
to end a conflict and make peace
After years of fighting, the two families finally buried the hatchet and agreed to move on.
Origin: From Native American tradition — burying a tomahawk during peace ceremonies meant ending hostilities permanently.
go down like a lead balloon · idiom/ɡoʊ daʊn laɪk ə lɛd bəˈlun/
to be received very poorly or fail badly
His joke about the economy went down like a lead balloon—nobody laughed, and the room fell silent.
Origin: A 1900s expression — a balloon made of heavy lead couldn't float and would crash, like a joke that completely failed.