out like a light
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Asleep or unconscious, particularly if this has occurred suddenly and the sleep is deep.
Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt
Ngủ sâu hoặc bất tỉnh, đặc biệt nếu xảy ra đột ngột
Machine-translated — suggest a fix
Register: colloquial
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
Once she received anesthesia, she was out like a light.
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 “out like a light” mean?
Asleep or unconscious, particularly if this has occurred suddenly and the sleep is deep.
Is “out like a light” formal or informal?
out like a light is generally colloquial.