Bed Expressions
2021-09-05
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1And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
2On this program we explore words and expressions in the English language.
3We give examples, notes on usage, and sometimes we even use them in a short story.
4For this week, we talk about something that we all use - a bed!
5Everyone likes different sleep conditions.
6Some like it dark and quiet.
7Others like to listen to sounds of nature as they fall asleep.
8Some like soft beds, and some like hard beds.
9So, today, we talk about beds.
10We have several expressions that use this word.
11The first one we will talk about involves a flower -- the rose.
12Imagine sleeping on a bed of roses.
13Roses smell nice.
14So, that could be very pleasant, indeed.
15Well, as long as the roses do not have thorns. Ouch!
16Well, if a bed of roses is nice, then "no bed of roses" is not.
17If something is "no bed of roses," it is difficult or really unpleasant.
18And we have all had those experiences.
19I know I have.
20Once, I was asked to sing and play the ukulele for a special event.
21The event was to raise money for a homeless shelter.
22So, I was happy to volunteer. I did not know the organizer well, but what could go wrong?
23The ukulele is such a happy instrument.
24Well, as it turned out, a LOT could go wrong.
25The organizer was actually kind of mean and bossy.
26First, she picked all the songs, and they were not that great.
27So, when we suggested other songs, she would yell.
28She also would yell at us if we played poorly.
29And this happened often because many of us were just beginners.
30Then on the night of our performance, it rained and was very cold.
31So, only a few people came to hear us play.
32This put her in a very bad mood.
33But then something happy happened.
34Someone in the crowd joined in by playing the flute.
35But then she yelled at them too!
36In the end, I got sick and lost my voice for about a month.
37So, let me tell you, the whole experience was no bed of roses!
38Now, if this woman had been unkind just once, I could say that maybe she "got up on the wrong side of the bed."
39This means you are in a bad mood.
40You feel irritable.
41But it's not your usual way of feeling.
42Perhaps you just didn't get enough sleep.
43However, this woman was unpleasant at every practice.
44So, it was more than just waking up on the wrong side of the bed. She was just no fun.
45Well, months later she needed ukulele players to help in another performance.
46But none of us joined.
47Playing the uke, as it is sometimes called, is something we do for fun.
48And we did not want to get yelled at again.
49So, this woman played alone and continues to play alone.
50You could say, "she made her bed, now she must lie in it."
51This means that a person has made a difficult situation and then must deal with the results, or consequences.
52Usually we say this to someone who has put themselves in the difficulty and then complains about it.
53When you use this expression, you can also use the word "sleep."
54"She made her bed, now she must sleep in it."
55And you do not have to say the whole thing.
56Simply saying, "You made your bed ..." is quite enough.
57Finally, bed is where we end up after finishing a long day.
58So, it is not surprising that we also have a "bed" expression for finishing a project or task.
59When you "put something to bed" you finish it.
60In fact, we are done with this Words and Their Stories.
61So, it's time to put this episode to bed ... until next time.
62I'm Anna Matteo.
1And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English. 2On this program we explore words and expressions in the English language. We give examples, notes on usage, and sometimes we even use them in a short story. 3For this week, we talk about something that we all use - a bed! 4Everyone likes different sleep conditions. Some like it dark and quiet. Others like to listen to sounds of nature as they fall asleep. Some like soft beds, and some like hard beds. 5So, today, we talk about beds. We have several expressions that use this word. 6The first one we will talk about involves a flower -- the rose. Imagine sleeping on a bed of roses. Roses smell nice. So, that could be very pleasant, indeed. Well, as long as the roses do not have thorns. Ouch! 7Well, if a bed of roses is nice, then "no bed of roses" is not. If something is "no bed of roses," it is difficult or really unpleasant. And we have all had those experiences. I know I have. 8Once, I was asked to sing and play the ukulele for a special event. The event was to raise money for a homeless shelter. So, I was happy to volunteer. I did not know the organizer well, but what could go wrong? The ukulele is such a happy instrument. 9Well, as it turned out, a LOT could go wrong. 10The organizer was actually kind of mean and bossy. First, she picked all the songs, and they were not that great. So, when we suggested other songs, she would yell. She also would yell at us if we played poorly. And this happened often because many of us were just beginners. 11Then on the night of our performance, it rained and was very cold. So, only a few people came to hear us play. This put her in a very bad mood. But then something happy happened. Someone in the crowd joined in by playing the flute. But then she yelled at them too! 12In the end, I got sick and lost my voice for about a month. So, let me tell you, the whole experience was no bed of roses! 13Now, if this woman had been unkind just once, I could say that maybe she "got up on the wrong side of the bed." This means you are in a bad mood. You feel irritable. But it's not your usual way of feeling. Perhaps you just didn't get enough sleep. 14However, this woman was unpleasant at every practice. So, it was more than just waking up on the wrong side of the bed. She was just no fun. 15Well, months later she needed ukulele players to help in another performance. But none of us joined. Playing the uke, as it is sometimes called, is something we do for fun. And we did not want to get yelled at again. 16So, this woman played alone and continues to play alone. You could say, "she made her bed, now she must lie in it." This means that a person has made a difficult situation and then must deal with the results, or consequences. 17Usually we say this to someone who has put themselves in the difficulty and then complains about it. 18When you use this expression, you can also use the word "sleep." "She made her bed, now she must sleep in it." 19And you do not have to say the whole thing. Simply saying, "You made your bed ..." is quite enough. 20Finally, bed is where we end up after finishing a long day. So, it is not surprising that we also have a "bed" expression for finishing a project or task. When you "put something to bed" you finish it. 21In fact, we are done with this Words and Their Stories. So, it's time to put this episode to bed ... until next time. 22I'm Anna Matteo. 23Anna Matteo wrote this story for VOA Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor. 24__________________________________________________________ 25thorn - n. a hard sharp leafless point on the stem or branch of a plant (as a rose bush) 26ukulele - n. a small guitar of Portuguese origin popularized in Hawaii in the 1880s and strung typically with four strings 27mood - n. a person's emotional state 28flute - n. a musical instrument that is shaped like a thin pipe and that is played by blowing across a hole near one end 29irritable - adj. easily made angry or annoyed 30consequence - n. something produced by a cause or following from a condition 31complain - v. to say or write that you are unhappy, sick, uncomfortable, etc., or that you do not like something 32episode - n. a television show, radio show, etc., that is one part of a series