Etymology Journal ยท D
Don't let the bedbugs bite
Meaning
- A playful, slightly creepy rhyme used to wish someone a good night's sleep. It is almost always said by parents to children.
Affectionate, classic
Used in a sentence
- Goodnight kids, sleep tight and don't let the bedbugs bite.
- I am heading to the hotel now, don't let the bedbugs bite.
- See you in the morning, don't let the bedbugs bite.
The backstory
Bedbugs were a legitimate nuisance in homes before modern sanitation and pesticides. It grew into a traditional bedtime sendoff in the early 20th century.
Heard in
Nationwide
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