Sleep tight

[artvanderlay]

Where does the expression 'sleep tight' come from?

[Kingaroo]

I've heard that thing about the ropes before, but I am skeptical. Nowdays we don't say, "Sleep without lumps or bent springs."

My theory, totally unsupported by evidence, and presented here for the first time (Quizmonster I'd love your feedback) is that "tight" has more to do with "securely and soundly." It would be a synonym for "fast" as in "fast asleep" and "tied fast."

Okay, feel free to snort and scoff, but it makes more sense to me.

[Litchick]

In A Pickle is absolutey correct!!!!!!  I once toured one of those plantations where the folks dress and act in period costume and they explained the rope thing almost as perfectly as In A  Pickle did!  :)

[Quizmonster]

To see what the noted lexicographer and etymologist, Michael Quinion, has to say on the subject, click http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-sle1.htm I'm always happy to go with what he says.

[JeffGrigg]

According to Oxford, the adverb "tightly" used to mean "soundly, properly, well, effectively."  So "sleep tight" means "sleep well;" it has nothing to do with bed ropes.  See the following URL:

http://www.askoxford.com/asktheexperts/faq/aboutwordorig ins/tight?view=uk