You Made Your Bed; Now Lie In It – Meaning, Origin and Usage

What do you do when you make a mistake? You take responsibility, admit it, and move forward. It is what we all should do when we make mistakes instead of hiding under the proverbial rock.

When you have made a decision, for better or worse you need to deal with and accept the consequences. This is what most people mean when they say you made your bed, now lie in it.

You may have heard it before, but did you know the original meaning behind it. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.

Meaning

The phrase "you made your bed, now lie in it" is a proverb that means you must accept the consequences of your actions. The consequences will be severe if you make a terrible decision. This phrase is similar to "you reap what you sow."

This phrase is often used to tell someone that they cannot complain about the situation they are in because they are the ones who caused it.

Example Usage

  • Your brother is responsible for this; “he has made a bed for himself; now he must lie in it.”
  • Everything was provided before the test; “now you all have made your bed, now lie in it
  • No one can save you from this punishment, “you have made a bed for yourself, and you must lie in it.”
  • Now I realize that it was my fault for trusting her; “I have made my bed now I am ready to lie on it. “
  • All the mistakes you have made are yours. “You made the bed and now lie on it. “

Origin

This proverb is based on a 15th-century French proverb that says, "One makes the bed so that he will find it.” This proverb means that a man finds himself in situations or consequences he creates for himself.

It has been used in various forms in English since the 16th century and is usually used to mean, "You've made your bed, so lie in it. “This proverb belongs to the original meaning of the proverb, but in modern usage, the word has been omitted.

Phrases Similar to You Made Your Bed; Now Lie In It

  • "You get what you deserve" means what happens to you, who will pay you for what you did.
  • “You reap what you sow" means that if you plant bad seeds, you will harvest rotten fruit.
  • "What goes around comes around." this means that if one mistreats another, he will also end up being mistreated by someone else.
  • “Get a taste of your own medicine” means to be abused because you abused someone else.
  • “Hoist with his own petard” means being hurt or destroyed by own plot or device.

Phrases Opposite to You Made Your Bed; Now Lie In It

  • "Ignorance is bliss" when you are glad; you shouldn't notice bad things.
  • "Let sleeping dogs lie." means not to invite trouble.
  • "You’re not going to make your dreams come true by making other people have nightmares” means it's not too late to change your ways."

What is The Correct Saying?

  • The correct saying is, "you made your bed; now lie in it."

Ways People May Incorrectly Say You Made Your Bed; Now Lie In It

  • I am glad you did will, that is what happens when you lie in the bed you make.
  • Lay in it after making the bed, most decisions end up this way.
  • "Now that I've made my bed, I must sleep in it."
  • “I made the bed; now lay in it."

Acceptable Ways to Phrase You Made Your Bed; Now Lie In It

  • You didn’t turn your project on time, that’s why you failed. Now that you made your bed, you need to lie in it.
  • The consequence of lying is losing peoples trust. So, you made your bed, now lie in it.
  • She missed the bus, now she can’t go. Since she made her bed, now she has to lie in it.

 

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