sleeping beauty: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumInformal
Quick answer
What does “sleeping beauty” mean?
A fairy-tale princess who falls into a magical, deep sleep, only to be awakened by a kiss.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A fairy-tale princess who falls into a magical, deep sleep, only to be awakened by a kiss.
Any person, especially a woman, who is sleeping deeply or appears to be in a trance-like, passive state; by extension, something dormant, inactive, or with great potential that has not yet been realized.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The character name is capitalized (Sleeping Beauty) when referring specifically to the fairy tale; lower case for metaphorical use. Both varieties use the term.
Connotations
Similar in both: evokes childhood, fantasy, passivity, latent beauty, or wasted potential.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “sleeping beauty” in a Sentence
the sleeping beauty of [metaphorical domain: e.g., science, the city]a sleeping beauty waiting to be awakenedplay (the) sleeping beautyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “sleeping beauty” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - not used as a verb
American English
- N/A - not used as a verb
adverb
British English
- N/A - not used as an adverb
American English
- N/A - not used as an adverb
adjective
British English
- He had a sleeping-beauty quality about him, utterly unaware of the chaos around his desk.
American English
- They made a sleeping-beauty bid for the company, hoping to wake its value.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
A 'sleeping beauty' refers to a company with undervalued assets, ripe for a takeover.
Academic
In literature, a 'sleeping beauty' motif represents a passive heroine awaiting activation by a male protagonist.
Everyday
Used to describe someone who sleeps very soundly or looks exceptionally peaceful while asleep.
Technical
In computer science/network theory, a 'sleeping beauty' is a paper or node that remains dormant for long periods before suddenly gaining high citation/activation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “sleeping beauty”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “sleeping beauty”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sleeping beauty”
- Capitalizing when used metaphorically (e.g., 'the city was a Sleeping Beauty' - incorrect).
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'He was sleeping beautying' - incorrect).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Only when referring specifically to the fairy tale character or title. In metaphorical use, it is not capitalized (e.g., 'a sleeping beauty').
Yes, though less common. The metaphorical use can apply to any person or thing that is dormant (e.g., 'He's the sleeping beauty of the team').
It can be, when used to describe a woman as passive or merely decorative. Context is key. In technical/business contexts (e.g., 'sleeping beauty patent'), it is neutral.
It refers to publications that go largely unnoticed ('sleep') for a long time before suddenly receiving a lot of attention ('are awakened').
A fairy-tale princess who falls into a magical, deep sleep, only to be awakened by a kiss.
Sleeping beauty is usually informal in register.
Sleeping beauty: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsliːpɪŋ ˈbjuːti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌslipɪŋ ˈbjudi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a sleeping beauty (in the rough)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'Beauty' in a deep 'Sleep' under a spell.
Conceptual Metaphor
POTENTIAL IS DORMANCY (a sleeping beauty = unrealized potential); PASSIVITY IS AN ENCHANTED SLEEP.
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, what does 'sleeping beauty' typically refer to?