hit the hay
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To go to bed.
Register: slang
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
"Time to hit the hay," Dave yawned. The bartender called "Good-night" as Dingwell went out of the swinging doors.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “hit the hay” mean?
To go to bed.
Is “hit the hay” formal or informal?
hit the hay is generally slang.