Rip Van Winkle

(ˈrɪp væn ˈwɪŋkəl)

1. a person who is oblivious to changes, esp in social attitudes or thought

2. a person who sleeps a lot

[C19: from a character who slept for 20 years, in a story (1819) by Washington Irving (1783–1859), US writer]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

Rip Van Win•kle

(ˌrɪp væn ˈwɪŋ kəl)
n.

(in a story by Washington Irving) a ne'er-do-well who sleeps 20 years and upon waking is startled to find how much the world has changed.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	Rip van Winkle - a person oblivious to social changes diehard, traditionalist - one who adheres to traditional views
	2.	Rip van Winkle - a person who sleeps a lot sleeper, slumberer - a rester who is sleeping
	3.	Rip van Winkle - the title character in a story by Washington Irving about a man who sleeps for 20 years and doesn't recognize the world when he wakens

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

Better than all, except the 'Conquest of Granada', I liked the 'Legend of Sleepy Hollow' and the story of Rip Van Winkle, with their humorous and affectionate caricatures of life that was once of our own soil and air; and the 'Tales of the Alhambra', which transported me again, to the scenes of my youth beside the Xenil.

View in context

The country through which the road meandered, was rich and beautiful; the weather very fine; and for many miles the Kaatskill mountains, where Rip Van Winkle and the ghostly Dutchmen played at ninepins one memorable gusty afternoon, towered in the blue distance, like stately clouds.

View in context

Both the world of fashion and the Court of Chancery are things of precedent and usage: oversleeping Rip Van Winkles who have played at strange games through a deal of thundery weather; sleeping beauties whom the knight will wake one day, when all the stopped spits in the kitchen shall begin to turn prodigiously!

View in context

In the big one, classy Rip Van Winkle (11-4) looked set for glory as he took it up after the turn.

POET WORKS THE MAGIC FOR FRANKIE

While 2000 Guineas hero Makfi is a worthy rival, preference is for the year older Rip Van Winkle despite the fact he is widely perceived as something of a 10-furlong star.

Bank on Rip to land QEII repeat

Rip Van Winkle won this race at Ascot last year and he goes back there with a big chance.

It should be a Rip roaring battle today

However, preference is for the year older Rip Van Winkle despite the fact he is widely perceived as something of a 10-furlong star.

Ripping Ascot choice

NAOMI MATTHEW: 1.55 Folly Bridge, 2.30 Frankel, 3.05 White Moonstone, 3.40 Navajo Chief (nb), 4.15 Rip Van Winkle (nap), 4.50 Electric Feel, 5.25 Omokoroa.

O'Brien ace looks ready to Rip it up

As well as Rip Van Winkle, the Ballydoyle trainer has left in last year's runner-up Fame And Glory, plus Irish Derby hero Cape Blanco, Beethoven and Black Quartz as he tries for a sixth success in this race.

TWICE MAY CROSS THE IRISH SEA; RACING

It was 7-4 favourite Rip Van Winkle's first success at 10 furlongs after a career spent largely in Group One company over a mile, and O'Brien has deliberately preserved him for the second part of this campaign with a return to the Breeders' Cup at the forefront of his mind.

Riproaring show nets International glory

RIP VAN WINKLE's haul for 2009 consists of Group 1 successes over Paco Boy in Glorious Goodwood's Sussex Stakes, and Zacinto in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.

123..it's elementary; IT'S THE RACE OF THE WEEK, STARRING A TRIO OF EQUINE SUPERSTARS

Rip van Winkle

Rip Van Winkle

Rip Van Win•kle