{"id":7903,"date":"2020-12-30T15:37:46","date_gmt":"2020-12-30T20:37:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/?p=7903"},"modified":"2021-03-08T12:06:12","modified_gmt":"2021-03-08T17:06:12","slug":"english-phrases-for-saying-good-night","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/english-phrases-for-saying-good-night\/","title":{"rendered":"English Phrases for Saying \u201cGood Night\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Image by StockSnap from Pixabay, CCO<\/p><\/div>\n

One of the first phrases we learn in any language is how to say, \u201cGood night.\u201d As with \u201cHello\u201d and \u201cHow are you?\u201d, saying \u201cGood night\u201d is not only an essential phrase but also something which can be said in many different ways. In English, we have some colorful ways to wish someone a good night. And, in some cases, there are interesting stories behind those phrases.<\/p>\n

Good Night and Goodnight<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Let\u2019s start, however, with the common confusion between good night<\/em> and goodnight<\/em>. There is no such confusion with the greetings of Good day<\/em>, Good morning<\/em>, and Good afternoon<\/em>. These are always two-word greetings. Good is an adjective modifier<\/strong> for the nouns day, morning, afternoon, evening, and night. We only encounter a problem with goodnight because, as one word, it exists as a noun<\/strong>. I may wish you a good night, or I may give you a goodnight kiss. Equally, if I say good night to members of my family, I can say that I gave them my goodnights.<\/p>\n

But, you may be thinking, what about Goodbye<\/em>? Why is that always spelled as one word? Why can\u2019t I wish someone a good bye?<\/p>\n

Good question! In fact, the word bye<\/em> is an abbreviation of the word goodbye. Wishing someone a good bye is the same as wishing someone a good goodbye, and that would be redundant<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

What About the Bedbugs?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I began this blog by talking about some of the more interesting phrases we use to wish someone a good night. Sometimes I learn the history of something and feel compelled to share that news with the world. That is the case with this blog. I learned the origin of a common saying and just had to share it!<\/p>\n

All my life I have heard the phrase, \u201cSleep tight. Don\u2019t let the bedbugs bite.\u201d I always thought that it was a funny (though rather creepy) little rhyme that adults say to children at bedtime. It turns out, however, that the phrase is historically significant.<\/p>\n

Sleep tight <\/em>is a variant of the phrase sleep tightly<\/em>. It was believed that the phrase referred to rope foundations that were used to hold a mattress to a frame before the invention of the innerspring mattress. These ropes often needed to be pulled taught, or tightly, to prevent the mattress from sagging. A sagging mattress would not make for a good night\u2019s sleep.<\/p>\n

Canopy beds, with netting to keep bugs and other critters out, are more likely the origin of the old saying. The four-poster canopy bed was a necessity of life in buildings with thatched roofs, which could attract any manner of unwanted pests. With a covering of curtains securely tied to the bedposts, anyone in such a bed would sleep better knowing that they were protected from bugs.<\/p>\n

It is also common to wish someone to sleep Snug as a Bug in a Rug<\/em>. Snug means to be cozy, warm, comfortable, and somewhat confined. Bugs seek out the warmth and security of being beneath a rug. Again, the rhyme is cute but the imagery might be a little unsettling. \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Nighty-Night<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The phrase, \u201cNighty-night\u201d is commonly said to children, although adults might say night-night to each other \u2013 particularly to a spouse or lover. There is a lovely old song, Dream a Little Dream of Me<\/em>:<\/p>\n

Say nighty-night and kiss me<\/em><\/p>\n

Just hold me tight and tell me you’ll miss me<\/em><\/p>\n

While I’m alone and blue as can be<\/em><\/p>\n

Dream a little dream of me.<\/em><\/p>\n

Other Common Ways to Say Good Night<\/strong><\/h3>\n