as you make your bed, so you must lie in it
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
One will carry negative consequences of one's previous action(s).
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
The old women say to their daughters: "as you make your bed so you must lie in it;" and the same may we say to the ministers. They took to the Pitt inheritance without any complaint; and the people have a right to demand of them a complete responsibility for all the mischief that shall happen.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “as you make your bed, so you must lie in it” mean?
One will carry negative consequences of one's previous action(s).
Is “as you make your bed, so you must lie in it” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.