sleep out
v. phr.— «On any given day, about 10% of my patients are awaiting the attention of social services, and during this time they remain at risk of picking up infections, going insane from sleep deprivation or being pierced through the heart by the evil eye of the bed-management team. However, the only place they can go is to empty beds in surgical wards, in a process known as “sleeping out.”» —“Nurses can’t walk away” by Karen Moffat Guardian (United Kingdom) Apr. 28, 2006. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
When does late at night change to early in the morning? 2:30 a.m.? 3:00 a.m.? Another time? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “When Does Late Night Become Early Morn?” Listener Greg Johnson asked a question that...
Is Murphy’s Law, or the idea that “anything that can go wrong will go wrong,” a slur against the Irish? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Is “Murphy’s Law” A Slur Against the Irish?”...