kip
C1informal, colloquial
Definition
Meaning
to sleep, nap or rest, especially informally or temporarily
a period of sleep; a unit of currency in Laos; a bundle of hides; a term for a youthful, immature person (archaic)
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a verb and countable noun ("a kip"), the primary sense relates to sleep in informal contexts. Its other senses are either highly regional (Laotian currency), archaic (bundle of hides) or obsolete (immature person), making them essentially homonyms.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
"Kip" is predominantly British/Irish/Commonwealth slang for sleep; it is extremely rare in everyday American English. The primary American equivalent is "crash" or "nap."
Connotations
In British English, it is informal but widely understood and often neutral or slightly playful. In American English, if used, it might be seen as a British affectation.
Frequency
High frequency in UK/Irish informal speech. Very low frequency in US; learners should be aware this is a strong regional marker.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[SUBJ] + kip + (down/over) (e.g., I'll kip down on the sofa)[SUBJ] + have/get + a kipVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “kip down (to sleep somewhere temporarily)”
- “get your head down for a kip”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, highly inappropriate.
Academic
Not used.
Everyday
Very common in UK/Irish informal contexts.
Technical
No technical usage for the sleep sense.
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- I'm going to have a quick kip before dinner.
- He hasn't had much kip lately.
American English
- (Virtually never used as a noun in this sense)
verb
British English
- I'm going to kip on the floor.
- He kipped over at his mate's house.
- Let's kip down here for the night.
American English
- (Rare) I'm so tired I could just kip right here.
- (Hearing British media) He said he'd kip on the couch.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I was so tired after the flight I just wanted to kip.
- Can I have a kip on your sofa?
- After the party, a few of us kipped down in the living room.
- I managed to grab a couple of hours' kip on the train.
- The hostel was basic, but it provided a cheap place to kip for the night.
- He's been working so hard he's seriously kip-deprived.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
"After the long trip, I needed to KIP: Keep Important Pillowtime."
Conceptual Metaphor
SLEEP IS A COMMODITY (get some kip, need a kip)
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with Russian "кип" (does not exist) or "кипить" (to boil). There is no semantic connection. "Kip" as sleep must be memorized as a pure loanword/slang.
Common Mistakes
- Using it in formal writing (too informal).
- Using it with American speakers (likely confusion).
- Confusing 'kip' (sleep) with 'keep'.
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English is the word 'kip' commonly used to mean 'sleep'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's informal and colloquial, but not offensive. It's similar in register to 'nap' or 'snooze.'
Yes, e.g., "I was just kipping when you called."
'Kip' is more informal and often implies a shorter, more casual period of sleep. 'Sleep' is the standard, neutral term.
Extremely rarely. An American listener would likely understand from context but would mark it as distinctly British/Irish slang.