before sleep or before going to bed? (2025)

She likes to have a glass of milk before sleep/going to bed.

Frankly speaking, I don't like either of them. But can't think of a better phrase. Would you help?

Thanks in advance.

There's nothing with 'She likes to have a glass of milk before going to bed'.

Rover

james.zeng said:

but if she is on bed and trying to sleep, what we can say? Before sleep or before going to bed?

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I don't really understand what you mean. "Going to bed" means that they are going to get into their bed and try to sleep. So you say "She likes to have a glass of milk before going to bed". She's not exactly going to "like" being in bed, being unable to sleep and then (whilst lying down with her eyes shut) drink milk, is she? Besides, the "before sleep" option would not be said in this way.

She likes to have a glass of milk before sleeping.
She likes to have a glass of milk before going to bed.

Their meanings are slightly different.

I can easily fall asleep in front of my PC... Especially when I am Wordreferencing and I have just had a glass of warm milk...

GF..

There is also "She likes to have a glass of milk before having a sleep." ... There are a few more..

You will also hear, at least in American English:
She likes to have a glass of milk before bed.
She likes to have a glass of mile before bedtime.

But "She likes to have a glass of milk before going to bed" is just fine.

You could also say, "She has a glass of milk at bedtime to help her sleep."

The "helps him/her/me/you sleep" is a very common way of saying this in AE.

Copyright said:

You will also hear, at least in American English:
She likes to have a glass of milk before bed.
She likes to have a glass of mile before bedtime.

But "She likes to have a glass of milk before going to bed" is just fine.

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Is there anything wrong with saying: "I like having a snack of fruit before bed."

wolfbm1 said:

Is there anything wrong with saying: "I like having a snack of fruit before bed."

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Other than the fact that "snack of fruit" makes me spit my milk, no.*

*(Sorry, I've just never heard it before and the sound of it seems quite hilarious at the moment, although there's probably nothing wrong with it ... just with me.)

Copyright said:

Other than the fact that "snack of fruit" makes me spit my milk, no.*

*(Sorry, I've just never heard it before and the sound of it seems quite hilarious at the moment, although there's probably nothing wrong with it ... just with me.)

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Thank you, Copyright. I like having a snack = I enjoy it. I like to have a snack = I do it habitually.

And how about:

I always read a book before going to bed. (Would this sentence imply I read a book before I go to bed?)

I always read a book before going to sleep. (Would it imply I like to read in bed?)

Would it be possible to say: I always read a book before sleep.

1. Yes.

2. Yes.

3. It's possible to say it. A native English-speaker wouldn't.

sunnyweather said:

I always read a book before going to bed. (Would this sentence imply I read a book before I go to bed?)

I always read a book before going to sleep. (Would it imply I like to read in bed?)

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They both imply that you read a whole book.

Try:
I always read before going to bed.
I always have a read before going to bed.*
I always have a read before I go to bed.*
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I always read in bed before I go to sleep.
I always have a read in bed before going to sleep.*

*I

this is BrE only ... not sure.

No one would say that. It implies that you read several books on the same evening.

I’m not familiar with “have a read” either. It’s very informal. Ewie’s unstarred suggestions are by far the most common:

I always read before going to bed.​

I always read in bed before I go to sleep.​

Or: I always read for a while before going down to sleep.

wolfbm1 said:

Is there anything wrong with saying: "I like having a snack of fruit before bed."

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You could say "I like to snack on fruit before I go to bed."

lingobingo said:

Or: I always read for a while before going down to sleep.

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Heyho, I'm not familiar with that one, LB

lingobingo said:

I always read for a while before going down to sleep.

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I'd say '... before settling down to sleep'.