noun

sandman

SAND-man

Sandman (noun) means a folklore character who sprinkles magic sand in children's eyes to bring sleep and dreams. Example: “Time for bed — the sandman is on his way.”

noun

A folklore character who sprinkles magic sand in children's eyes to bring sleep and dreams.

"Time for bed — the sandman is on his way."

"She told her little brother the sandman would visit if he closed his eyes."

How to use sandman

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe bedtime-story figure who makes children fall asleep.

Common pairings

the sandman is coming visit from the sandman

Word forms

sandmen plural

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Time for bed — the _____ is on his way.

Etymology

Built from "sand" plus "man"; the sleep-bringing character likely comes into English from the German Sandmann, popularised by an 1816 E.T.A. Hoffmann story.

Origin: German · First attested 1816

Class of 1816 sandman joined the language around 1816.

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Frequently asked questions

What does “sandman” mean?

The word “sandman” means a folklore character who sprinkles magic sand in children's eyes to bring sleep and dreams. In plain terms, the bedtime-story figure who makes children fall asleep.

How do you pronounce “sandman”?

“Sandman” is pronounced SAND-man (/ˈsænd.mæn/ in IPA).

How do you use “sandman” in a sentence?

Here is “sandman” used in a sentence: “Time for bed — the sandman is on his way.”

What part of speech is “sandman”?

“Sandman” is a noun.

Where does the word “sandman” come from?

The word “sandman” dates back to around 1816 and comes from German. Built from "sand" plus "man"; the sleep-bringing character likely comes into English from the German Sandmann, popularised by an 1816 E.T.A. Hoffmann story.