You know we love finding out the origin of everyday phrases here at I’m A Useless Info Junkie. We already had an article on “Break The Ice”, “Bite The Bullet” And 3 More Expressions With Crazy Origins and another one for “As Mad As A Hatter”, “Break A Leg” And 3 More Expressions With Crazy Origins.
Well, today, we look at the origin of yet another expression: why ill-tempered people “get up on the wrong side of the bed”?
Let’s find out. (the article continues after the ad)
The wrong side of the bed is actually the left side of the bed, and this belief is based on the superstition that left is associated with bad luck. That is also the reason why it’s considered unlucky to walk into a house with your left foot or put your left shoe on first. This superstition goes back to the times of ancient Rome and even Augustus Caesar was very careful that he got on the right side of the bed.
In fact, even the expression itself is quite old: people have been using the phrase “got up on the wrong side of the bed” or “got up left foot forward” for over three centuries now when referring to surly and unfriendly people.
And now you know!
If you like what you read, then you will definitely love this one: “As Mad As A Hatter”, “Break A Leg” And 3 More Expressions With Crazy Origins
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Sources: The Facts on File Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins | Get up on the wrong side of the bed | Does the Bible say anything about halos? | Ever Wonder Why?: Here Are the Answers!