sleepers
Unexpected hit films
Sleepers are railroad ties—the wooden or concrete beams laid crosswise beneath the tracks.
The term is standard in British English, while Americans say ties.
Sleepers are also people who sleep, pajamas for infants, or things that succeed unexpectedly after attracting little initial attention: The film was a sleeper hit.
A sleeper agent remains dormant until activated.
Light, restful unconsciousness
snooze · repose · drowsiness · somnolence · REM · insomnia · nocturnal · bedtime
Connections or neckwear
- crosstiesPerpendicular rail supports
- timbersLarge wooden beams
- concreteSolid building mixture
- trackbedRailway's supporting base
ballast · rails · gauge · infrastructure · maintenance
Subterranean insectivore
- agentOne who acts independently
- operativeCovert field agent
- infiltratorOne who enters covertly
- plantBotanical organism
asset · embedded · covert · undercover · dormant · activated · handler
Convertible sitting-sleeping furniture
Sleepwear set
- nightwearClothing for bed
- nightgownSleeping garment, usually loose
- onesieSnap-closure infant garment
- nightshirtLoose sleeping garment
Unlikely winner, previously unknown
- underdogPresumed loser beforehand
- unknownNot yet discovered
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
- upsetDisturb, topple, or shock
longshot · breakthrough · revelation · undiscovered · wildcard
slumber
Light, restful unconsciousness
doze · snooze · repose · drowsiness · somnolence · REM · insomnia · nocturnal · bedtime · snoring
ties
Connections or neckwear
trackbed · ballast · rails · gauge · infrastructure · maintenance
mole
Subterranean insectivore
- agentOne who acts independently
- operativeCovert field agent
- infiltratorOne who enters covertly
plant · asset · embedded · covert · undercover · dormant · activated · handler
sofabed
Convertible sitting-sleeping furniture
- pulloutOrganized departure or removal
- daybedSeating that converts to sleeping
- futonConvertible couch-bed
cot · foldaway · trundle · convertible
pajamas
Sleepwear set
nightshirt · footie · sleepsuit · romper · babygrow · jammies
darkhorse
Unlikely winner, previously unknown
- underdogPresumed loser beforehand
- unknownNot yet discovered
- unexpectedNot anticipated beforehand
upset · longshot · breakthrough · revelation · undiscovered · wildcard
- back row seating targetslatecomers, couples, troublemakers, observers, introverts
- horse racingthoroughbred, horse racing, racehorse, flat race, horses
- railroadstrains, train, tracks, track, locomotive
- baby clothesonesies, onesie, bodysuit, bodysuits, romper
- baby gearbaby bottle, baby carrier, baby bottles, car seat, pram
- Baby giftsblankets, onesies, rattles, stuffed animals, bibs
sleepersflops
Unsuccessful ventures or releases
bombs · blockbusters · hits · disappointments · busts
sleeperswakers
Those who rouse others
insomniacs · early risers · night owls · risers · sentinels
- sleeper carTrain compartment with beds
- sleeper cellsHidden agents awaiting orders
- sleeper hitsUnheralded works gaining popularity
- light sleeperOne easily awakened
- sleeper agentsCovert operatives awaiting activation
- sleeper trainTrain with sleeping accommodations