sleep rough

sleep rough

To sleep outside at night, usually because one has no home or shelter. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. The government's aim is to have the number of people sleeping rough halved in five years' time. I slept rough for a couple of years after my house was repossessed. It's not something I would wish on anyone.
See also: rough, sleep
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

sleep rough

BRITISH
When people sleep rough, they sleep out of doors, usually because they have no home. It makes me so sad when I see young people begging or sleeping rough on the streets. Note: You can also say that someone lives rough. He looked like he'd been living rough for the last few days.
See also: rough, sleep
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

sleep rough

sleep in uncomfortable conditions, usually out of doors. British
See also: rough, sleep
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

live/sleep ˈrough

live or sleep outside in the streets because you have no home or money: Hundreds of people are sleeping rough on the streets of the city.
See also: live, rough, sleep
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • kip down
  • be as safe as houses
  • beauty sleep
  • get (one's) beauty sleep
  • get your beauty sleep
  • don't let the bedbugs bite
  • lull (one) to sleep
  • lull to sleep
  • beauty
  • (I've) got to go home and get my beauty sleep
References in periodicals archive
Clr Cathy Scott, cabinet member for housing, said: "We want Kirklees to be a place where no one has to sleep rough on our streets, where no one is excluded, and where the support to prevent and end homelessness is available for everyone.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "Most of us can only imagine what it is like to sleep rough and it is devastating that so many aren't getting the right access to healthcare.
Chief executive of homeless charity Crisis Jon Sparkes, said: "It's a damning reflection of our society that night after night, so many people are forced to sleep rough on our streets, especially when we know that with the right commitment, rough sleeping could be ended for good.
Chief executive of homeless charity Crisis, Jon Sparkes said: "It's a damning reflection of our society that night after night, so many people are forced to sleep rough on our streets, especially when we know that with the right commitment, rough sleeping could be ended for good.
There is no anyone to here but sadly people doing Cllr Mick Thompson, Middlesbrough Council's executive member for Culture and Communities, said: "There is no need for anyone to sleep rough in Middlesbrough but sadly there are people in our community who are doing just that.
"Nobody should have to sleep rough and it is even more important we support them as the temperature drops.
Ministers are also expected to review legislation on homelessness and rough sleeping, including the Vagrancy Act, which dates back to 1824 and still makes it illegal to sleep rough or beg in England and Wales.
Anyone who continues to sleep rough is offered ongoing help but the council said there will be a range of complex reasons why they may not accept support.
"Why sleep rough on a pitch with under soil heating?" Blanche DuBois
"Wales has made big steps forward in tackling homelessness in recent years and we are ready to work closely with Welsh Government to ensure people who have to sleep rough can get into a suitable home as early as possible.
NO-ONE should be forced to sleep rough this Christmas, Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy claimed yesterday ahead of the opening of a new shelter.
"While every effort is made to ensure that no-one rough sleeps during severe weather people do sometimes choose not to accept our offer of accommodation and choose to sleep rough.
I drove home thinking of all the people who would have to sleep rough again that night and the night after, who knows for how long.
However, individuals who sleep rough often have enormously complex issues and in some circumstances choose not to access our accommodation, instead sleeping rough for many years.