How did you sleep today? - meaning

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3















Usually the question "How did you sleep today?" is about the quality of the sleeping or about the position of the sleeping?



In other words, if I read or hear “how did you sleep last night”, what should I understand?










share|improve this question




























    3















    Usually the question "How did you sleep today?" is about the quality of the sleeping or about the position of the sleeping?



    In other words, if I read or hear “how did you sleep last night”, what should I understand?










    share|improve this question


























      3












      3








      3








      Usually the question "How did you sleep today?" is about the quality of the sleeping or about the position of the sleeping?



      In other words, if I read or hear “how did you sleep last night”, what should I understand?










      share|improve this question
















      Usually the question "How did you sleep today?" is about the quality of the sleeping or about the position of the sleeping?



      In other words, if I read or hear “how did you sleep last night”, what should I understand?







      phrase-meaning






      share|improve this question















      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited Jan 31 at 9:26







      Witty loquacity

















      asked Jan 27 at 11:15









      Witty loquacityWitty loquacity

      11.7k63190335




      11.7k63190335




















          2 Answers
          2






          active

          oldest

          votes


















          12














          Unless you're a vampire, normally you'd be asked




          How did you sleep last night?




          The questioner is wanting to know if your sleep was restful or if it was disturbed in any way.






          share|improve this answer























          • and if he didn't sleep at night but in the day time? By the way, I really didn't understand what you said about the vampire, I'd like to get explain and learn something new:)

            – Witty loquacity
            Jan 27 at 11:45






          • 3





            If he regularly sleeps during the day and is awake at night (e.g. he works the night shift) then one might ask "How did you sleep today?" But we can't really use today in this context without some kind of special justification for it. A typical question might be How was your nap?

            – Tᴚoɯɐuo
            Jan 27 at 11:56







          • 3





            Absent a context where the discussion centers on sleep position (fetal position, on stomach, on the back) the question How did you sleep? normally is asking whether you slept well.

            – Tᴚoɯɐuo
            Jan 27 at 12:21






          • 2





            @Wittyloquacity In what context does asking "in what position did you sleep last night" make any sense? Do people in your culture ask each other about their sleeping positions as small talk?

            – Moyli
            Jan 27 at 19:29






          • 1





            @Wittyloquacity This sort of misunderstanding can be a source of humour: Q:"How did you sleep last night?" A: "I closed my eyes." or Q: "Did you make your bed?" A: "No, I bought it."

            – CJ Dennis
            Jan 28 at 1:51


















          1














          I may be wrong in what I say, which is based only on my experience of other people’s speech and writing.



          First, your question is not fully clear. It might be:-




          1. If I read or hear “how did you sleep last night”, what should I understand?



          Or it might be:-




          What is the right (or best) way to ask about the quality (or position) of somebody’s sleep.




          If we take 1., I would say that under almost all circumstances we should understand the question as one about the quality of sleep. Why? Because in almost all circumstances it is an odd and intrusive question, unless you were a mountaineer halfway up a rock face, or Batman/girl. Also such a silly question might tempt a frivolous answer, such as: “On my back, with my bottom against the headboard and my legs up the wall.”



          A more reasonable context might be after a night when neighbours were playing rock all night long at full blast. Then you might wonder




          How did you sleep last night?




          But if question 1. is the issue, I should say that the most common (and least ambiguous) way of asking it is to say:




          Did you sleep well last night?




          And if you spent the night under the same roof, and meet up over breakfast,




          Did you sleep well? is enough







          share|improve this answer
























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            2 Answers
            2






            active

            oldest

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            2 Answers
            2






            active

            oldest

            votes









            active

            oldest

            votes






            active

            oldest

            votes









            12














            Unless you're a vampire, normally you'd be asked




            How did you sleep last night?




            The questioner is wanting to know if your sleep was restful or if it was disturbed in any way.






            share|improve this answer























            • and if he didn't sleep at night but in the day time? By the way, I really didn't understand what you said about the vampire, I'd like to get explain and learn something new:)

              – Witty loquacity
              Jan 27 at 11:45






            • 3





              If he regularly sleeps during the day and is awake at night (e.g. he works the night shift) then one might ask "How did you sleep today?" But we can't really use today in this context without some kind of special justification for it. A typical question might be How was your nap?

              – Tᴚoɯɐuo
              Jan 27 at 11:56







            • 3





              Absent a context where the discussion centers on sleep position (fetal position, on stomach, on the back) the question How did you sleep? normally is asking whether you slept well.

              – Tᴚoɯɐuo
              Jan 27 at 12:21






            • 2





              @Wittyloquacity In what context does asking "in what position did you sleep last night" make any sense? Do people in your culture ask each other about their sleeping positions as small talk?

              – Moyli
              Jan 27 at 19:29






            • 1





              @Wittyloquacity This sort of misunderstanding can be a source of humour: Q:"How did you sleep last night?" A: "I closed my eyes." or Q: "Did you make your bed?" A: "No, I bought it."

              – CJ Dennis
              Jan 28 at 1:51















            12














            Unless you're a vampire, normally you'd be asked




            How did you sleep last night?




            The questioner is wanting to know if your sleep was restful or if it was disturbed in any way.






            share|improve this answer























            • and if he didn't sleep at night but in the day time? By the way, I really didn't understand what you said about the vampire, I'd like to get explain and learn something new:)

              – Witty loquacity
              Jan 27 at 11:45






            • 3





              If he regularly sleeps during the day and is awake at night (e.g. he works the night shift) then one might ask "How did you sleep today?" But we can't really use today in this context without some kind of special justification for it. A typical question might be How was your nap?

              – Tᴚoɯɐuo
              Jan 27 at 11:56







            • 3





              Absent a context where the discussion centers on sleep position (fetal position, on stomach, on the back) the question How did you sleep? normally is asking whether you slept well.

              – Tᴚoɯɐuo
              Jan 27 at 12:21






            • 2





              @Wittyloquacity In what context does asking "in what position did you sleep last night" make any sense? Do people in your culture ask each other about their sleeping positions as small talk?

              – Moyli
              Jan 27 at 19:29






            • 1





              @Wittyloquacity This sort of misunderstanding can be a source of humour: Q:"How did you sleep last night?" A: "I closed my eyes." or Q: "Did you make your bed?" A: "No, I bought it."

              – CJ Dennis
              Jan 28 at 1:51













            12












            12








            12







            Unless you're a vampire, normally you'd be asked




            How did you sleep last night?




            The questioner is wanting to know if your sleep was restful or if it was disturbed in any way.






            share|improve this answer













            Unless you're a vampire, normally you'd be asked




            How did you sleep last night?




            The questioner is wanting to know if your sleep was restful or if it was disturbed in any way.







            share|improve this answer












            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer










            answered Jan 27 at 11:27









            TᴚoɯɐuoTᴚoɯɐuo

            113k788182




            113k788182












            • and if he didn't sleep at night but in the day time? By the way, I really didn't understand what you said about the vampire, I'd like to get explain and learn something new:)

              – Witty loquacity
              Jan 27 at 11:45






            • 3





              If he regularly sleeps during the day and is awake at night (e.g. he works the night shift) then one might ask "How did you sleep today?" But we can't really use today in this context without some kind of special justification for it. A typical question might be How was your nap?

              – Tᴚoɯɐuo
              Jan 27 at 11:56







            • 3





              Absent a context where the discussion centers on sleep position (fetal position, on stomach, on the back) the question How did you sleep? normally is asking whether you slept well.

              – Tᴚoɯɐuo
              Jan 27 at 12:21






            • 2





              @Wittyloquacity In what context does asking "in what position did you sleep last night" make any sense? Do people in your culture ask each other about their sleeping positions as small talk?

              – Moyli
              Jan 27 at 19:29






            • 1





              @Wittyloquacity This sort of misunderstanding can be a source of humour: Q:"How did you sleep last night?" A: "I closed my eyes." or Q: "Did you make your bed?" A: "No, I bought it."

              – CJ Dennis
              Jan 28 at 1:51

















            • and if he didn't sleep at night but in the day time? By the way, I really didn't understand what you said about the vampire, I'd like to get explain and learn something new:)

              – Witty loquacity
              Jan 27 at 11:45






            • 3





              If he regularly sleeps during the day and is awake at night (e.g. he works the night shift) then one might ask "How did you sleep today?" But we can't really use today in this context without some kind of special justification for it. A typical question might be How was your nap?

              – Tᴚoɯɐuo
              Jan 27 at 11:56







            • 3





              Absent a context where the discussion centers on sleep position (fetal position, on stomach, on the back) the question How did you sleep? normally is asking whether you slept well.

              – Tᴚoɯɐuo
              Jan 27 at 12:21






            • 2





              @Wittyloquacity In what context does asking "in what position did you sleep last night" make any sense? Do people in your culture ask each other about their sleeping positions as small talk?

              – Moyli
              Jan 27 at 19:29






            • 1





              @Wittyloquacity This sort of misunderstanding can be a source of humour: Q:"How did you sleep last night?" A: "I closed my eyes." or Q: "Did you make your bed?" A: "No, I bought it."

              – CJ Dennis
              Jan 28 at 1:51
















            and if he didn't sleep at night but in the day time? By the way, I really didn't understand what you said about the vampire, I'd like to get explain and learn something new:)

            – Witty loquacity
            Jan 27 at 11:45





            and if he didn't sleep at night but in the day time? By the way, I really didn't understand what you said about the vampire, I'd like to get explain and learn something new:)

            – Witty loquacity
            Jan 27 at 11:45




            3




            3





            If he regularly sleeps during the day and is awake at night (e.g. he works the night shift) then one might ask "How did you sleep today?" But we can't really use today in this context without some kind of special justification for it. A typical question might be How was your nap?

            – Tᴚoɯɐuo
            Jan 27 at 11:56






            If he regularly sleeps during the day and is awake at night (e.g. he works the night shift) then one might ask "How did you sleep today?" But we can't really use today in this context without some kind of special justification for it. A typical question might be How was your nap?

            – Tᴚoɯɐuo
            Jan 27 at 11:56





            3




            3





            Absent a context where the discussion centers on sleep position (fetal position, on stomach, on the back) the question How did you sleep? normally is asking whether you slept well.

            – Tᴚoɯɐuo
            Jan 27 at 12:21





            Absent a context where the discussion centers on sleep position (fetal position, on stomach, on the back) the question How did you sleep? normally is asking whether you slept well.

            – Tᴚoɯɐuo
            Jan 27 at 12:21




            2




            2





            @Wittyloquacity In what context does asking "in what position did you sleep last night" make any sense? Do people in your culture ask each other about their sleeping positions as small talk?

            – Moyli
            Jan 27 at 19:29





            @Wittyloquacity In what context does asking "in what position did you sleep last night" make any sense? Do people in your culture ask each other about their sleeping positions as small talk?

            – Moyli
            Jan 27 at 19:29




            1




            1





            @Wittyloquacity This sort of misunderstanding can be a source of humour: Q:"How did you sleep last night?" A: "I closed my eyes." or Q: "Did you make your bed?" A: "No, I bought it."

            – CJ Dennis
            Jan 28 at 1:51





            @Wittyloquacity This sort of misunderstanding can be a source of humour: Q:"How did you sleep last night?" A: "I closed my eyes." or Q: "Did you make your bed?" A: "No, I bought it."

            – CJ Dennis
            Jan 28 at 1:51













            1














            I may be wrong in what I say, which is based only on my experience of other people’s speech and writing.



            First, your question is not fully clear. It might be:-




            1. If I read or hear “how did you sleep last night”, what should I understand?



            Or it might be:-




            What is the right (or best) way to ask about the quality (or position) of somebody’s sleep.




            If we take 1., I would say that under almost all circumstances we should understand the question as one about the quality of sleep. Why? Because in almost all circumstances it is an odd and intrusive question, unless you were a mountaineer halfway up a rock face, or Batman/girl. Also such a silly question might tempt a frivolous answer, such as: “On my back, with my bottom against the headboard and my legs up the wall.”



            A more reasonable context might be after a night when neighbours were playing rock all night long at full blast. Then you might wonder




            How did you sleep last night?




            But if question 1. is the issue, I should say that the most common (and least ambiguous) way of asking it is to say:




            Did you sleep well last night?




            And if you spent the night under the same roof, and meet up over breakfast,




            Did you sleep well? is enough







            share|improve this answer





























              1














              I may be wrong in what I say, which is based only on my experience of other people’s speech and writing.



              First, your question is not fully clear. It might be:-




              1. If I read or hear “how did you sleep last night”, what should I understand?



              Or it might be:-




              What is the right (or best) way to ask about the quality (or position) of somebody’s sleep.




              If we take 1., I would say that under almost all circumstances we should understand the question as one about the quality of sleep. Why? Because in almost all circumstances it is an odd and intrusive question, unless you were a mountaineer halfway up a rock face, or Batman/girl. Also such a silly question might tempt a frivolous answer, such as: “On my back, with my bottom against the headboard and my legs up the wall.”



              A more reasonable context might be after a night when neighbours were playing rock all night long at full blast. Then you might wonder




              How did you sleep last night?




              But if question 1. is the issue, I should say that the most common (and least ambiguous) way of asking it is to say:




              Did you sleep well last night?




              And if you spent the night under the same roof, and meet up over breakfast,




              Did you sleep well? is enough







              share|improve this answer



























                1












                1








                1







                I may be wrong in what I say, which is based only on my experience of other people’s speech and writing.



                First, your question is not fully clear. It might be:-




                1. If I read or hear “how did you sleep last night”, what should I understand?



                Or it might be:-




                What is the right (or best) way to ask about the quality (or position) of somebody’s sleep.




                If we take 1., I would say that under almost all circumstances we should understand the question as one about the quality of sleep. Why? Because in almost all circumstances it is an odd and intrusive question, unless you were a mountaineer halfway up a rock face, or Batman/girl. Also such a silly question might tempt a frivolous answer, such as: “On my back, with my bottom against the headboard and my legs up the wall.”



                A more reasonable context might be after a night when neighbours were playing rock all night long at full blast. Then you might wonder




                How did you sleep last night?




                But if question 1. is the issue, I should say that the most common (and least ambiguous) way of asking it is to say:




                Did you sleep well last night?




                And if you spent the night under the same roof, and meet up over breakfast,




                Did you sleep well? is enough







                share|improve this answer















                I may be wrong in what I say, which is based only on my experience of other people’s speech and writing.



                First, your question is not fully clear. It might be:-




                1. If I read or hear “how did you sleep last night”, what should I understand?



                Or it might be:-




                What is the right (or best) way to ask about the quality (or position) of somebody’s sleep.




                If we take 1., I would say that under almost all circumstances we should understand the question as one about the quality of sleep. Why? Because in almost all circumstances it is an odd and intrusive question, unless you were a mountaineer halfway up a rock face, or Batman/girl. Also such a silly question might tempt a frivolous answer, such as: “On my back, with my bottom against the headboard and my legs up the wall.”



                A more reasonable context might be after a night when neighbours were playing rock all night long at full blast. Then you might wonder




                How did you sleep last night?




                But if question 1. is the issue, I should say that the most common (and least ambiguous) way of asking it is to say:




                Did you sleep well last night?




                And if you spent the night under the same roof, and meet up over breakfast,




                Did you sleep well? is enough








                share|improve this answer














                share|improve this answer



                share|improve this answer








                edited Jan 31 at 9:29









                Witty loquacity

                11.7k63190335




                11.7k63190335










                answered Jan 31 at 1:20









                TuffyTuffy

                20114




                20114



























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