hit the hay
idiom

- to go to bed in order to sleep

(Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary)

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WORD ORIGIN

Hit the hay is an expression of American origin that stems from the idea of sleeping on top of hay in a barn or from sleeping on hay-filled sacks that once served as mattresses (thus the synonymous saying "hit the sack"). One can also "hit the pillow".

While the idea of sleeping on a bale of hay sounds adventurous and romantic, it's not without risk. An article in the August 13, 1912 edition of the New York Times illustrates just how dangerous it can be.

Abraham Snyder, of 95 Market in Paterson, New Jersey, was spending his vacation in the countryside with friends when they decided to sleep on hay that had been mowed in a field. Snyder discovered a spider crawling on his face during the night, which he crushed with his hand.

The next morning he awoke with a swollen lower lip and could neither eat nor talk. A series of doctors were called in, but they were unable to provide any relief outside of applying ice to keep the lip from swelling any further. Dr. George Koch was finally brought in and he recommended surgery. Unfortunately, poor Mr. Snyder passed away before the procedure could be performed.

This gives new meaning to the old children's bedtime saying

"Good Night! Sleep tight, hope the bed bugs don't bite!"

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SYNONYMS

get some shuteye, have a snooze, have a siesta, get forty winks, hibernate, crash, turn in, retire

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SMUGGLE OWAD into a conversation:

"It's going to be a long day tomorrow, let's HIT THE HAY."