Get out of bed on the wrong side

Meaning

The idiom "get out of bed on the wrong side" means to wake up feeling unhappy, irritable or upset, even when things could be good. It is a figurative way of saying that someone is having a bad morning. The phrase suggests waking up with a sour mood and being unable to shake it off easily, even if circumstances change later in the day.

Usage

• "I get out of bed on the wrong side every Monday morning because of my commute to work."
• "After arguing with her husband last night, Sarah woke up grumpy and irritable. She was really mad at herself for getting out of bed on the wrong side."
• "The weather forecast predicted a lovely day, but when I got out of bed, it started pouring outside. I wish I had stayed in bed longer."
• "I have always been an early bird, but today I woke up late and rushed to work. Getting out of bed on the wrong side definitely didn't help."
• "After not sleeping well the night before, John woke up feeling groggy and irritable. He wished he had gotten out of bed earlier to start his day off on the right foot."

Roots and History

The exact origin of this idiom is unclear, but it has been in use since at least the 16th century. One theory suggests that it comes from a superstition that waking up with your feet hitting the ground would bring bad luck for the rest of the day. Another theory suggests that it may be related to the medieval practice of sleeping with one's head outside the bed, which could cause discomfort if the ground was wet or uneven.

Synonyms in English

• "I wake up feeling cranky every morning."
• "She had a bad mood all day after waking up with a sour attitude."
• "He woke up on the wrong side of the bed, but his mood improved after a good cup of coffee."
• "The weather forecast predicted a lovely day, but the heat got the best of me. I wish I had gone back to bed for a few more hours."
• "I have always been an early bird, but today I woke up late and felt out of sorts all day."

Synonyms in other languages

• Español: "Despertar con la piel de gato" - This idiom means to wake up feeling irritable or grumpy, like a cat that has been stepped on.
• Français: "Se réveiller en mauvaise humeur" - This idiom means to wake up feeling unhappy or in a bad mood.
• German: "Den Tag mit einer schlechten Stimmung beginnen" - This idiom means to start the day with a sour mood or bad attitude.
• Italian: "Svegliarsi male" - This idiom means to wake up feeling irritable or angry.
• Dutch: "Ontwaakt zijn van de slechte geest" - This idiom means to wake up feeling in a bad mood or with a negative outlook on life.

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