In this idiom based English question, choose the alternative that best explains the meaning of the expression “get up on the wrong side of the bed”, as used to describe a person mood for the whole day.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: to start the day in a bad mood that continues through the day

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
Idioms are fixed expressions whose meanings cannot always be understood by looking at the individual words. The phrase get up on the wrong side of the bed is a common idiom in English. It is often used in everyday speech to describe someone who is irritable, grumpy, or in a bad mood for no clear reason. This question checks whether the learner knows the figurative meaning of the idiom and can distinguish it from other, more literal interpretations related to sleep or waking up.


Given Data / Assumptions:
Important points for this question are as follows:

  • The idiom is get up on the wrong side of the bed.
  • The context is general English usage, not a medical or scientific setting.
  • The options present various situations related to sleep, waking, discomfort, and mood.
  • We must choose the option that captures the widely accepted idiomatic meaning.


Concept / Approach:
In idiom questions, the main strategy is to recall or infer the figurative meaning of the expression. The idiom get up on the wrong side of the bed does not literally refer to which side of the bed a person uses to stand up. Instead, it symbolically refers to starting the day in a bad mood for no special reason. This bad mood then influences behaviour and reactions throughout the day. Therefore, among the options, we must pick the one that links the idiom to a bad mood lasting the whole day rather than to sleep duration, physical discomfort, or travel plans.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that get up on the wrong side of the bed is an idiom that refers to beginning the day in an irritable or unpleasant mood. Step 2: Examine option a, which explains starting the day in a bad mood that continues through the day. This matches the idiom meaning very closely. Step 3: Look at option b, which deals with waking up early to work or travel. This is about time of waking, not mood. Step 4: Evaluate option c, which refers to a sleepless and restless night due to worries. That describes poor sleep quality, not necessarily an idiomatic bad mood from the moment of waking. Step 5: Consider option d, which talks about an uncomfortable stay at an unfamiliar place. This also has no link to the standard idiomatic sense. Step 6: Conclude that option a is the only one that correctly expresses the meaning of the idiom.


Verification / Alternative check:
Another way to verify is to think of how people actually use this idiom in conversations. For example, a person might say, He must have got up on the wrong side of the bed today, because he is snapping at everyone. This clearly refers to a negative mood, not the duration or comfort of sleep. Matching this real life usage to the options shows that option a is accurate. None of the other choices connect directly with mood that begins at waking and continues during the day.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option b is incorrect because it focuses only on waking up early and does not mention mood or irritation. Option c is wrong because a sleepless night is about the previous night, not the idiom that describes mood after waking. Option d is incorrect since an uncomfortable stay at an unfamiliar place is a different situation that might cause discomfort but is not the meaning of this fixed expression. Only option a addresses the emotional state that lasts through the day.


Common Pitfalls:
Learners sometimes assume that idioms must relate literally to the key nouns in the phrase, in this case bed and get up. This can lead to choosing an option linked to sleep or physical comfort rather than mood. Another mistake is to confuse this idiom with phrases about insomnia or travel. To avoid such errors, it is important to build a habit of learning idioms in context, with example sentences showing how they are used in real life speech or writing.


Final Answer:
The idiom get up on the wrong side of the bed means to start the day in a bad mood that continues through the day, which is correctly expressed by option a.

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