Phrase Explanation: What Keeps You up at Night

When someone asks, “what keeps you up at night“, they are asking about what worries, concerns, or preoccupies you. It’s like asking what’s so important or troubling that it prevents you from sleeping.

Here are two examples in sentences:

Example 1:
“The deadline for the project is what keeps me up at night. I can’t stop thinking about all the work I have to do,” said Sarah.

Example 2:
The question of what he would do after graduation was what kept John up at night.

Now, let’s see two examples in a conversation:

Example 3:
Emily: Hi, Tom! You look tired. What’s wrong?
Tom: It’s the new job, Emily. Figuring out all my new responsibilities is what keeps me up at night.

Example 4:
Lucas: Hey, Mia! You seem distracted. What’s up?
Mia: Lucas, it’s the climate change issue. Thinking about what kind of world we are leaving for our kids is what keeps me up at night.

So, when someone asks “what keeps you up at night“, they’re asking about your worries or concerns. It’s a way of finding out what’s on your mind or what’s troubling you.

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