Sleep on it — sounds a little funny, right?
niëën yiic — aye piŋ ke nhiaar yic, cie tɛde?
Literally, it sounds as if you are going to put something in your bed and then sleep on top of it.
Wɛ̈t de yic, yen aye pïŋ ke cït yïn aleŋ ke baa taau agen du nhom ku jɔl niin yen nhom thin.
But it also means to take some time to think before making a decision, perhaps even overnight - going to bed and having a sleep to give you more time to think so that you don’t rush into deciding anything.
ku yeen aya wɛɛtde yic ee ku ba kaam nyiaai ku taak tɛ këc yin wɛt gua taakic, tɛdɛt aleu bi ya wɛɛric- lɔ ageerem nhom ku ba niin ku bi yiëk kaam dit ku ba taak ee rin ci yïn yeen wïc ba roothic kuat ke taakic.
The phrase has been around for a long time. The first recorded use was in 1519, by King Henry VIII of England. He said he would “sleep and dream on the matter” before making an important decision. Even back then, people knew that a good night’s sleep could help you think more clearly!
Wɛ̈t kënë aci rëël thin kaam baaric. Kaam tueŋ ke dɔm yen ee ruön 1519, ee Muor ŋaaknhoom Henry VIII ee England. Aci lueel yen abi "niinku nyuɛ̈ɛ̈th ee wɛ̈t kenë yic" kaam tuëŋ keec yen wɛ̈t rilic gua taakic. Agut ci ci kaam kënë yic ɣɔ̈ɔ̈n, A ŋïc kɔc tɛ ci yïn ŋiëëc niin apɛɛth ka leu bi yïïn kuɔɔny ku ba ŋieec tak yïlɔ nhom ciök.
We still use ‘to sleep on it’ quite a lot.
Ɣok ake ye 'ku niën yic yen' apɛi dit.
When someone asks you to choose something right away and you don’t want to you can say:
Naye ke cï raan dɛt yïn thiëëc ku ba kedɛ̈ɛ̈ŋ kuääny nyiin yic thin tɛ̈në ku acï wïc ka leu ku ba lueel:
- I’m not sure. I’ll sleep on it and tell you tomorrow.
- Aca ŋic apɛth, Yen aba niëën yic ku aba lɛ̈k yïïn nhiäk.
Or at work:
Wala tɛn luɔ̈ɔ̈i:
- My manager wants an answer today, but I think I’ll sleep on it first.
- Baany die a wïc ku bi dhuök kɔu wɛt yakölë, yen mɛn, aya tak ba käŋ niën yic ke tuëŋ.
In everyday situations, for example when deciding about a trip:.
Ee kuat keriëëc looi rot kööl thok eben, cimën naye ke wën tɛɛk yïn lakeeny yic.
- I’m not sure if I want to go hiking this weekend. Let me sleep on it.
- Ɣɛn akuöc thok naye kë wic ɣɛ̈n yen ku ba la tɔɔny ee thook wik kënë yic. Cɔl alɔ̈k niëën yiic.
You can also use it when giving advice:
Yen aleu ku ba luööi aya naye ke wëët yïn:
- Don’t rush your choice — sleep on it and see how you feel in the morning.
- Duk yïkɔu bɛ̈ɛ̈n kuddun ba kuäänyic—niëën yic ku kɔŋ tïŋ tɛ ba yiök rot nhiäknhiäk.
Explore the entire series Words we use by clicking here to listen!
Caath keriëëc eben ka bïööth ke ciök Wël yeku luöi erin ku ba thuääny yic tɛn ku ba pïŋ!
This episode is available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Jam dan kënë aye yiök ee Spotify ku Apple Podcasts.
Credits:
Host: Akuar Dut Malek
Written by: Josipa Kosanovic
Graphic design: Dorry Wang
Educational consultant: Professor Lynda Yates
Produced by: Josipa Kosanovic, Akuar Dut Malek
