The Archive

Etymology Journal ยท W

Well, somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed

Meaning

A teasing observation that someone is in a bad mood for no apparent reason. It is often used to get them to lighten up.

Teasing, lighthearted

Used in a sentence

  • Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed, why don't you have a coffee?
  • Easy there, looks like somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed today.
  • Don't mind him, I think somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

The backstory

Dates back to Roman times, where waking up on the left side was considered unlucky. It eventually morphed into a common idiom for morning irritability.

Heard in

Nationwide

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