# Whence "dirt nap" for death?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-dirt-nap-for-death/461940>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 4, 2008, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-dirt-nap-for-death/461940 "2008-09-04T05:14:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![greatshakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@greatshakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greatshakes)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-dirt-nap-for-death/461940/1 "2008-09-04T05:14:26Z")

</div>

I first heard the phrase ‘dirt nap’ , meaning dead, on the movie “Sleepers.” It seemed rather forced to me at the time, but I think it has a certain panache.  
So, was that the first time it was used?  
Thanks,  
greatshakes

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-dirt-nap-for-death/461940/2 "2008-09-04T07:40:01Z")

</div>

It’s been around for a while.

Quite possibly a combination of biting the dust and being buried.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-dirt-nap-for-death/461940/3 "2008-09-04T11:12:28Z")

</div>

Certainly not “common” until the mid-90’s or so. I found one use in a NY Times piece written in 1987 about insurance salesmen. The writer was using a string of “humorous” euphemisms for death.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![curwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@curwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curwin)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-dirt-nap-for-death/461940/4 "2008-09-04T15:10:09Z")

</div>

Nothing [here](http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=dirt) unfortunately

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-dirt-nap-for-death/461940/5 "2008-09-04T15:24:16Z")

</div>

I distinctly remember the first time I heard the expression. It was on an episode of the early 80’s sitcom **Bosom Buddies**. Tom Hanks delivered the line.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [September 4, 2008, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whence-dirt-nap-for-death/461940/6 "2008-09-04T15:34:35Z")

</div>

I was once accused of inventing the term. :dubious: