What is "loose sleep"?

English grammar questions, answered by Alan

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Tranny
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What is "loose sleep"?

Post by Tranny »

Hello,

Does anyone know what the meaning of Loose Sleep is? I saw a show on TV and caught that phrase in this sentence: "He doesn't loose sleep over me."

Thanks a bunch!
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Joe
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Re: What is "loose sleep"?

Post by Joe »

Tranny wrote:"He doesn't loose sleep over me."
Your sentence is not English. What you really heard was:

"He doesn't lose sleep over me."

Loose is an adjective with several meanings: not firmly or tightly fixed in place; not fitting tightly; relaxed, not strict.

Lose is a verb meaning be deprived of or cease to have.

Lose is pronounced with a /z/ sound (/looz/).
Loose is pronounced with an /s/ sound (/loos/).

You probably didn't hear the /z/ sound because of the /s/ sound in sleep.

The meaning is something like:

He doesn't care about me. He doesn't worry about me. I don't stop him sleeping.
"We are not wholly bad or good, who live our lives under Milk Wood :-| " — Dylan Thomas, Under Milk Wood

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Tranny
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Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Sep 14, 2004 9:36 pm

Thank you Josef

Post by Tranny »

I'm really satisfied with your answer! Thanks again!
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