Cool MateConsider vs We should sleep on it
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Consider
Top 1,000 (very common)A2verb
We should sleep on it
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Most common: Consider
| Consider | We should sleep on it | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //kənˈsɪdə//🇺🇸 //kənˈsɪdər// | 🇬🇧 //wi ʃəd sliːp ɒn ɪt//🇺🇸 //wi ʃəd slip ɑn ɪt// |
| Meaning | To think about something carefully. | We should think about it for a while before deciding. |
| Example | I will consider your suggestion. | I’m not sure about the job offer; I think we should sleep on it. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | consider carefully, consider an option, consider a possibility | sleep on a decision, sleep on an idea, sleep on it overnight, sleep on a proposal, sleep on options |
| Antonyms | ignore, dismiss, overlook | - |
| Common mistakes | Confuse with 'considering' which is a different form., Omit the object, e.g., saying 'Consider' without specifying what., Mix with 'contemplate', which has a deeper meaning. | Used in formal contexts where a direct decision is expected., Confused with 'we should act on it' which implies immediate action., Omitting 'on' and saying 'sleep it' which is incorrect. |
| Usage notes | Use 'consider' when you are thinking about options or possibilities. It’s appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but may sound too formal in casual conversations. | This phrase is used when suggesting to take time to consider a decision. It’s informal but suitable for many contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Consider vs We should sleep on it
What's the difference between Consider and We should sleep on it?
Consider: To think about something carefully. We should sleep on it: We should think about it for a while before deciding.
Which is more common: Consider and We should sleep on it?
Consider is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Consider: I will consider your suggestion. We should sleep on it: I’m not sure about the job offer; I think we should sleep on it.
Can I use Consider and We should sleep on it interchangeably?
Not always. Consider and We should sleep on it are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.