Make bed

[tufguy]

Do we ask our servents to "Make our bed". Like to put metress and blankets on the bed?

 

[bhaisahab]

Do we ask our servents to "Make our bed". Like to put metress and blankets on the bed?

Most Europeans do not have servants. If we did, we would be likely to say something like "Would you make the bed(s), please?"

 

[Tarheel]

Do you know where the expression "make your bed" comes from?

 

[emsr2d2]

Do we ask our servants to "Make our bed"? [STRIKE]Like[/STRIKE] For example, to put a/the [STRIKE]metress[/STRIKE] mattress and blankets on the bed.

Note my spelling and other corrections above. Usually, making the bed doesn't involve putting the mattress on - it's usually just putting on or straightening the sheets, pillow and covers.

 

[AlbertBel]

Do you know where the expression "make your bed" comes from?

Is it an idiom?

 

[MikeNewYork]

There are two idioms. The first one is literal and is the one that applies to the OP's question. The second one is figurative (not a real bed).

See here: idioms.thefreedictionary.com/make+bed

 

[Tarheel]

Back before beds were permanent fixtures in houses and apartments, people would roll up their beds (which were made of straw) and put them next to the wall. Then in the evening they would "make their beds" and they would lie down and go to sleep. (Then the next day they would do it all over again.)

(I didn't realize when I asked that question how hard it would be to find an explanation on the Internet.)

Beds in Medieval Times
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bed
http://www.answers.com/Q/What_were_beds_made_out_of_in_Medieval_Times

 

[Tdol]

Note my spelling and other corrections above. Usually, making the bed doesn't involve putting the mattress on - it's usually just putting on or straightening the sheets, pillow and covers.

You could use change the bed for putting clean sheets on, in BrE at least.

 

[MikeNewYork]

We use "change the bed" the same way in AmE.