![]() |
|
| Share / Tweet / Pin Me! | |
French Proverb
| Meaning | (Let’s) sleep on it | |
| Literally | The night bears advice | |
| Register | normal | |
| Pronunciation | [lah nwee puhrt(eu) ko(n) sehy] | |
| IPA | [la nwi pɔʁtə kɔ̃ sej] | |
Usage notes: In English, we recommend "sleeping on" seemingly insurmountable problems in the hopes of getting some new perspective upon waking, and the French equivalent suggests a similar result from a slightly different point of view.
La nuit porte conseil is a proverbial suggestion that the night (that you spend asleep) will bring much-needed advice the next morning.
Par exemple…
| – J’hésite entre ces deux possibilités. – La nuit porte conseil. |
– I can’t decide between these two possibilities. – Sleep on it. |
|
| Le choix n’est pas évident, mais la nuit porte conseil : prendrons une décision demain. | The choice isn’t clear, so let’s sleep on it and make a decision tomorrow. |
Synonymous expressions
- attendre le lendemain pour (décider / prendre une décision)
- Il faut que j’attende / nous attendions demain pour …
- On verra / Nous verrons demain.
Related expressions
- demander conseil (à quelqu’un) – to ask (someone) for advice
- être de bon conseil – to give good advice (be a person who gives good advice)
- faire quelque chose sur le conseil de quelqu’un – to do something on someone’s advice
- prendre conseil de quelqu’un – to take someone’s advice
- suivre les conseil de quelqu’un – to follow someone’s advice
Related lessons
Share / Tweet / Pin Me!





Fear of speaking, glossophobia, is one of the most common phobias – even just in one’s native language. If you feel nervous when speaking French, it’s probably due to a lack of confidence in your skills. The obvious solution is to improve your French, but there are also other ways to increase your confidence and feel more comfortable speaking French.
Learn how to translate French infinitives, imperatives, and participles into English.