the sandman

noun

used to refer to sleep as an imaginary man who makes people sleepy by sprinkling sand in their eyes
The kids want to stay up late, but they are fighting off the sandman.

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The diaries offer a host of insights into American behavior — including what each person was doing the minute before the sandman entered. Andrew Van Dam, Washington Post, 24 Feb. 2023

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Cite this Entry

“The sandman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20sandman. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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