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Hi English teachers,
Is it acceptable to say that I have over slept?

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Type: Question • Score: 6 • Views: 621 • Replies: 11

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View best answer, chosen by Loh Jane

@Loh Jane,

Yes, I do it all the time.

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@roger,

Ha ha,
Thanks roger.

1 Reply

@Loh Jane,

Just to add confusion, if you say you slept over at a friend's home, it would mean you spent the night there even if you didn't over sleep.

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@roger,

roger wrote:

Just to add confusion, if you say you slept over at a friend's home, it would mean you spent the night there even if you didn't over sleep.

But then, you're not really saying "slept over," but rather "over at."

Over at a friends home I slept.

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except that it's overslept.

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@InfraBlue,

Well, that's what I meant, but I said what I said, and what I said is the way it is said.

What? You want "Two men up the hill, down they are coming"?

I am hoping Loh Jane is no longer following this. It isn't going to help.

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@MontereyJack,

MontereyJack wrote:

except that it's overslept.

Yes. It's one word.

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@Loh Jane,

Quote:

Is it acceptable to say that I have overslept?

Yes, it is, Jane. There is also "sleep in / I slept in." "overslept" carries a connotation that this was not a good thing, maybe it caused you to be late for work. "sleep in" is more neutral, as if it was planned or didn't affect anything else.

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@JTT,

JTT wrote:

"overslept" carries a connotation that this was not a good thing, maybe it caused you to be late for work.

We often add 'over' to the beginning of a adjective or verb when we wish to create the idea of excessiveness.

oversleep - to sleep past the intended time of awakening (to sleep too long)

also overeat, overdo, overact, overdecorate, etc

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@contrex,

Good point, C.

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@roger,

roger wrote:

What? You want "Two men up the hill, down they are coming"?

Sure, if it helps to explain and clarify what you're trying to say.

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