make the bed

VERB

[/meɪk ðə bɛd/]

to arrange and tidy up a bed after sleeping, typically by straightening the sheets, blankets, and pillows

💡 Concept

Every morning she makes the bed before heading to work.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/meɪk ðə bɛd/

🇬🇧 UK/meɪk ðə bɛd/

🌳Etymology

Origin

This phrase combines two Old English roots: 'make' derives from Old English 'macian' (to construct or fashion), while 'bed' comes from Old English 'bedd' (a sleeping place or couch). The phrase evolved semantically from literally constructing a bed to the modern sense of arranging bedding into neat condition.

Breakdown

make (Old English 'macian', to construct) + bed (Old English 'bedd', sleeping place). The compound developed from literal construction to the idiomatic sense of tidying and arranging bedding.

🎵Rhyme

bedredfedledsaid

bed

red

fed

led

said

🔗Collocations

make the bed every morning

forget to make the bed

help make the bed

make the bed neatly

make the bed properly

refuse to make the bed

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“My robot vacuum can clean the floor, but it still can't make the bed - that's job security for humans!”

😄 Fun example

“I finally learned to make the bed when I realized my cat judges me every morning.”

“Making the bed is the first accomplishment of the day - it sets a productive tone.”

“She taught her children to make the bed as soon as they got up.”

📚Related Words

Synonyms

tidy the bedarrange the beddingstraighten the bedfix the bed

Antonyms

mess up the bedunmake the bedrumple the sheets

clean roomorganize bedroomfold blanketsfluff pillowstuck sheets

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make the bed — to arrange and tidy up a bed after sleeping, typically by straightening the sheets, blankets, and pillows

Example Sentences