sand man
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Puzzle #181 · November 29, 2025
The Sandman is a mythical explanation for the ‘sand’ sprinkled on your eyes while you sleep. The ‘sand’ is actually the buildup of rheum, the medical term for the eye gunk. This substance is a collection of mucus, oils, skin cells, and other debris from the tear film that gathers in the corner of the eye when you’re not blinking. The Sandman comes from European folkore ranging from a malevolent character in German folklore who may steal your eyes to a friendlier character in Hans Christian Anderson tales who gives children sweet dreams.
Puzzle Appearances
The expression sand man has appeared in 1 puzzle:
- Puzzle #181 on November 29, 2025
Rate of Appearance in English Language Print
Google's Ngram project shows how often a pair of words has appeared in print every year since the 1800's.
Data from Google Books Ngram Viewer. Licensed under CC BY 3.0.
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