Zzzzz

What A Cliched Little Snooze

by Aaron Rice (a.rice@ukonline.co.uk)
written 16 Dec 1996

This article is classified "Real"


One of the most common cliches to have arisen over the years is the
customary "Zzzzz" which is used to represent a sleeping person.  It is very
hard to see how this originally came into place, as there are very few, if
any, people that actually make this noise when they are dozing, unless they
are subconsciously attempting to conform to a stereotypical snooze.

It is possible that "Zzzzz" is an attempt to indicate that the relevant
person is snoring.  This sounds logical until you realise that to make that
noise when snoring implies a severe medical problem that should be corrected
[1] immediately.

Most probably it is merely an attempt to imply sleep using something with
absolutely no connection to sleeping whatsoever, and, one might even suggest,
with the real world.  This seems the most likely possible explanation.

The conclusion you can draw from this is:  if you hear someone making this
noise while apparently asleep, they are obviously faking it.

[1] Given its apparent nature, there may not (yet) actually be a cure.

Attached documents:
An Example Illustration


See also:
  • Insomnia
  • Sleep
  • Onomatopoeia

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