Forty Winks

Now, this is a strange one even though it is in such common usage. Why on earth is having a nap known as forty winks. We don't even wink when we're sleeping. And why forty? Is thirty nine winks considered not a proper nap? Is forty one winks a nap with a lie in?

There's forty whelks for the best answer.

Joel: winner!

I know this one! Rip Van Winkle (Wink) slept for forty years!

Phrases And Their Origins

• Taken To The Cleaners
• Minding Your P's And Q's
• Hoist By His Own Petard
• Freeze The Balls Off A Brass Monkey
• Full Of Beans
• Kettle Of Fish
• Resting On Your Laurels
• Bone Up
• The Buck Stops Here
• Forty Winks
• On Tenter Hooks
• Up The Swanee
• Not On Your Nelly
• Stick It Up Your Arse
• Cloud Nine

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You can't make this stuff up, you know

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