What is the meaning of the Filipino idiom Tulog-mantika?

• A. Deep or heavy sleep.
• B. A nap during the day.
• C. A restless wakefulness.
• D. A light doze.

Answer: (A)

Tulog-mantika describes a sleep that is very deep and heavy—so firmly asleep that it’s hard to wake someone. The image comes from mantika, oil, which is thick and slippery; pairing it with tulog suggests a state where one is utterly still and not easily stirred by noise or light. That’s why it’s the best fit for meaning: it conveys a solid, prolonged sleep rather than a short nap or a light doze, and it’s not about being awake or restless. For example, you might say someone is tulog-mantika even if there’s noise around them or people are trying to wake them, because the sleep is that deep.