Sleep in late

Question

http://www.speakerstrust.org/index.php?cmd=News&sub=View&actdata=118Think all teenagers like to sleep in late on Saturday mornings? Think again!Is in necessary?

Nugso · Accepted Answer

No, I think you can say Think all teenagers like to sleep in late on Saturday mornings? Think again!

HUBLOT · Answer

Hmm, what do you think, Aspara Gus?

RandomGuy · Answer

I agree with Nugso. To sleep in is to oversleep, i.e., to sleep beyond the usual, intended, or proper waking time, so sleep in late is redundant. One of the following should be used:

Think all teenagers like to sleep in on Saturday mornings? Think again!
Think all teenagers like to sleep late on Saturday mornings? Think again!
Think all teenagers like to oversleep on Saturday mornings? Think again!

HUBLOT · Answer

Thank you, AG.

CalifJim · Answer

HUBLOTIs in necessary?

It is to me. The concept of sleeping for a long time makes sense, but not the concept of sleeping late. The concept of arriving late makes sense, but not the concept of sleeping late. What would you be late for if you slept late? Or would it mean that you did not fall asleep "on time"?

In my opinion you have to use the idiom "sleep in late", meaning "stay in bed longer than usual". The teenagers in the sentence like to stay in bed longer than usual on Saturdays. You don't even need "late". You can say they like to sleep in. That's not the same as saying that they like to sleep.

CJ

Yoong Liat · Answer

Nugso wrote:

No, I think you can say Think all teenagers like to sleep in late on Saturday mornings? Think again!

I agree with Nugso.

RandomGuy · Answer

CalifJimWhat would you be late for if you slept late?

An appointment, maybe.

CalifJimOr would it mean that you did not fall asleep "on time"?

That's a good point. Maybe sleep late isn't such a good idea, after all. Most people wouldn't misinterpret it that way, though.

HUBLOT · Answer

Thank you, everyone, but I'm terribly confused. Could I ask what "sleep in" means? Does it mean "to oversleep"? If it does, I have no idea what "sleep in late" means.

RandomGuy · Answer

HUBLOTCould I ask what "sleep in" means? Does it mean "to oversleep"?

Sleep in and oversleep are can be synonymous, but sleeping in is often intentional, whereas oversleeping is not. This is not always the case. Context usually makes the meaning clear.

I prefer to sleep in on weekends. (inadvertent, habitual)
I was late for work because I overslept. (accidental, involuntary)

HUBLOTIf it does, I have no idea what "sleep in late" means.

Sleep in late is no different from sleep in or oversleep except that it's redundant: Late is unneeded.

Many of these questions of yours can be answered by referring to a dictionary. Sometimes it is necessary to check several, in which case I use Onelook.com

Yoong Liat · Answer

HUBLOTThank you, everyone, but I'm terribly confused. Could I ask what "sleep in" means? Does it mean "to oversleep"? If it does, I have no idea what "sleep in late" means.

Macmillan Dictionary has the following definition:for 'sleep in':

to continue sleeping after the time that you usually wake up

The whole family sleeps in on Sundays.

I can find 'sleep in late'. Hence, the 'in' is indeed redundant.

Hope this ends your confusion.

Sleep in late

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