keep one's bed

Again a problem with "health" vocabulary. Do you use "to keep one's bed" as an equivalent of "to keep to bed"? Or is it just a misprint? :-?

Can I say "I got down with quinsy and the doctor told me to keep my bed"?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by englishhobby

Can I say "I got down with quinsy and the doctor told me to keep my bed"?

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No, "I went down with (the) quinsy and the doctor told me to keep to my bed/stay in bed."

If you saw this, then I would say it's a misprint- at least in BrE.

I had to look up "quinsy" as well. I would say Americans are not likely to say "keep to your bed" but would understand it to mean "stay in bed." The one without the possessive would feel wrong. (Keep it? Compared to what? Selling it on eBay?)

I only know what a quinsy is as I had one once! A throat infection that becomes so bad you cannot even swallow liquid and have to be hospitalised so that you can be hydrated on a drip.
It's also almost impossible to speak.
On my third day a grumpy old doctor was doing his morning rounds, accompanied by a crowd of junior doctors.
He stopped at my bed and asked if I was feeling better.
"Yes", I replied, "but no one can understand me."
"Someone stabbed you?" he cried, appalled. His crowd of followers all gasped and looked at me shocked. In the end I had to write down "No one can understand me" on a notepad and show them.
It was like a very silly comedy.