spend the night
spend the night — idiom
1. to sleep somewhere for one night, especially somewhere away from your own home
to sleep somewhere for one night, especially somewhere away from your own home
The hikers spent the night in a small shelter near the lake.
spent the night in + place
After the late train was cancelled, several passengers spent the night at the station.
spent the night at + place
The children asked if they could spend the night with their cousins.
Because the road was closed, the driver had to spend the night nearby.
- stay overnight
very close in meaning and often more direct
- sleep over
informal; often used by children or for staying at someone's home
- go home
leave instead of staying somewhere overnight
文法句型
spend the night
spend the night at/in + place
spend the night with + person
spend the night away from home
用法筆記
This sense is about where someone sleeps for the night. It does not itself say anything about a sexual relationship; that meaning depends on context and is treated separately in sense 2.
常見錯誤
Do not add an object after 'night' for this idiom. Say 'We spent the night at the hostel,' not 'We spent the night the hostel.'
Use 'spend the night' for one night. For a longer visit, use 'stay for two nights' or 'stay for a week'.
2. to have sex with someone during an overnight stay
to have sex with someone during an overnight stay
The tabloid claimed that the actor had spent the night with a former colleague.
spent the night with + person
In the interview, she denied spending the night with him.
spending the night with + person
The phrase can sound suggestive when someone says they spent the night with a date.
He told reporters it was false that he had spent the night with his assistant.
- sleep with
more direct and clearly sexual
- have sex with
plain, explicit wording
文法句型
spend the night with + person
用法筆記
This is a euphemistic meaning. In neutral contexts, 'spend the night with someone' can simply mean sleep at that person's home; the sexual meaning comes from the wider context.
常見錯誤
Do not assume every use of 'spend the night with someone' is sexual. Context decides whether it means simply staying overnight or having sex.