dirt nap

English

Etymology

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

Audio (AU) (file)

Noun

dirt nap (plural dirt naps)

(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", Ready to Die, Christopher Wallace
  When I bust my gat, motherfuckers take dirt naps
- 2008 Seth Hoffman and Matt Olmstead, "Dirt Nap", Prison Break
  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'", 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", 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", The Houston Chronicle
  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", 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'", 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

take a dirt nap

Translations

(irreverent term for) eternal rest, death

Russian: ве́чный сон m (véčnyj son), сме́рть (ru) f (smértʹ)

References

“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

[Partridge-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