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
1
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 notesIn plain EnglishThe bedtime-story figure who makes children fall asleep.
Common pairings
the sandman is coming
visit from the sandman
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Word forms
- Plural
- sandmen
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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.
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.
