a bed of thorns
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A situation of great anxiety and apprehension. In the twinkling of a bed-post or bed-staff.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “a bed of thorns” mean?
A situation of great anxiety and apprehension. In the twinkling of a bed-post or bed-staff.
Is “a bed of thorns” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.