The 10 expressions around bed linen

Litotes, oxymoron or proverbs, the boarders are fond of pretty turns of phrase. We therefore offer you an overview of expressions related to bed linen . Because not all expressions are to be taken literally, we decipher them and comment on them below. Before you start reading, a little riddle: can you find all 10? Be careful, no cheating!

Fall out of bed

Let's start with one of the easiest. We're (almost) certain that you mentioned it. It refers to waking up earlier than usual. On those mornings, we enjoy drinking our coffee wrapped in our double cotton gauze blanket .

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Out of bed

Yet another expression that is part of everyday language. A marker of time, this last one translates to “from the morning” or “from the crack of dawn”, here is another nice expression! When jumping out of bed, be careful not to trip over your sheets !

To be in a right mess

The latter is paradoxical because sleeping in beautiful cotton gauze sheets is very comfortable! However, this expression has a negative meaning! Its meaning comes from history. Indeed, the full expression was originally “to be in beautiful white sheets”. However, “sheets” referred to clothes and white was the color of those who had sinned, hence this negative connotation.

White as a sheet

As white as our immaculate white? That's not a good sign... We say that a person is white as a sheet when they suddenly turn pale from fear or illness.

As one makes one's bed, so one lies down

Reading this expression literally, your bed is a reflection of your sleep. Indeed, if your bed is poorly made, you risk sleeping badly! Figuratively, it is equivalent to assuming the consequences of your actions as in the expression “You reap what you sow”. So avoid leaving your duvet cover in a ball to ensure a peaceful night.

Washing dirty laundry in the family

This expression also has its own little history. Indeed, before the superb invention of the washing machine, women (we don't want to be sexist, but it's a reality...) went to the washhouse. From then on, this place was an opportunity to exchange the latest gossip from the city or village while washing dirty laundry ! However, for Honoré de Balzac in 1833, “dirty laundry should only be washed in the family”. The expression then became widespread.

Getting up on the wrong side of the bed

Being in a bad mood? At Les pensionnaires it never happens (or almost) with our cotton percale sheets , impossible to get up on the wrong side of the bed!

Make your bed square

This expression refers to a military practice. Indeed, soldiers use this method to make their beds. No folds and nothing sticks out! Do you want sheets like in a hotel ? They also use this technique.

He who sleeps dines

18th century innkeepers used this expression to force their guests to eat dinner when they booked a room. Today, it is used to mean that sleep would make you forget about hunger. Enough to leave us perplexed... We advise you to eat lightly but avoid skipping a meal. On this subject, we let you read our evening routine for peaceful nights here .

But also... the best for last, borrowed from our Quebec friends

Spending the night on the clothesline

We grant you, this expression is very colorful. The first time we heard it, we didn't really know what to think... But what does it mean? Are you giving up? Spending the night on the clothesline means not having slept much and/or having had a bad night!