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Zzzzzzzzzzzzz in /out

The English expression: to sleep in, to let yourself sleep longer than usual in the morning (sleep in…to the day). It’s not the same as to oversleep, with the sleep duration accidentally being longer than intended, probably leading to unfortunate consequences (of being late to something, etc). Arguably the word oversleep can only be legitimized if you have something planned that you can be late for (but then again, that could be anything – your own wake up goal could count as well).

The Swedish translation: att sova ut, to “sleep out”, to get all that sleep out…of your system. There is a difference here.

If “sleeping in” is not as guilt-ridden as “oversleeping”, there is still an element of decadence and laziness built in. Being inside (when you could be outside), wasting a whole morning in bed, like a self-imposed inmate.

“Sova ut” has a completely different air of wholesomeness and healthiness to it. It assumes that there is an optimal sleep duration (which rarely is met), and to “sleep out” would mean to let your body get the amount of sleep it naturally needs. It also suggests that – should there be an accumulative sleep deficiency over time – you can (and should) once in a while restore your sleep (let it fill up/out) to its full level. Reset the body and brain. No decadence. Care.

Oversleep and försova sig (Swe) seem more equivalent. “Over”, is implying “over the top” or “too much”, as does för in “försova” (“too much” = “för mycket” (Swe)).

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