English edit

Etymology edit

First attested in 1981;[1] dirt (alluding to a dead person’s burial in the earth) + nap (euphemistic in a manner somewhat like with put to sleep but jocular via dark humor).

Pronunciation edit

  • (file)

Noun edit

dirt nap (plural dirt naps)

  1. (slang, indelicate) A state of permanent rest; the state of death.
    • 1989, Laurence Gonzales, The Still Point, “Anatomy of a Drug Bust”, ‘Two: Fort Harrison’, page 119
      “You go in there without enough men, you’re liable to end up takin’ a dirt nap.”
    • 1994, Christopher Wallace, “Gimmie the Loot”, in Ready to Die: Christopher Wallace[1]:
      When I bust my gat, motherfuckers take dirt naps
    • 2008, Seth Hoffman, Matt Olmstead, “Dirt Nap”, in Prison Break[2]:
      The 54th episode — which deals with a protagonist causing someone's death — is named: Dirt Nap
    • 2008 May 30, “Indiana Jones rides again in 'Crystal Skull'”, in Kennebeck Journal:
      Besides, no one wants to see Indiana take the big dirt nap like a commoner.
    • 2008 June 4, Gary Dzen, “Blog Wars: Part 3”, in Celtics Blog: The Boston Globe:
      ...Sasha could be a big part of either burying Boston when their starters rest or simply allowing Kobe a rest without his own squad getting a dirt nap.
    • 2008 June 6, Steve Campbell, “Astros' promising start withers on road”, in The Houston Chronicle[3]:
      He may as well have dug a 6-foot hole and settled in for a dirt nap.
    • 2008 June 10, Matt Mitovich, “Dirt Nap: Courteney Cox's Series Is Canceled”, in The CW, KREN, Reno:
      Dirt Nap: Courteney Cox's Series Is Canceled
    • 2008 June 18, Steve Elling, “Haney says Woods will be back 'better than ever'”, in CBS Sports:
      Nobody from the Golf Channel, Nike or PGA Tour need bother taking the fast trip to a long dirt nap just yet.

Derived terms edit

Translations edit

References edit

  1. ^ dirt nap” listed on page 203 of The Concise New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English [2007; rev. ed. of The Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, 8th ed., 1984]
      dirt nap noun death US, 1981