So THAT's why we say "Don't let the bedbugs bite"

Express yourself. No Images? Click here       I’m very into knowing the backstory of why we do the things we do, especially why we say what we do. Think about the common bedtime phrase, “Good night, Sleep tight. Don’t let the bedbugs bite.” Reporter Caroline Bologna dove into the phrase that will make any city-dweller squirm… "For most adults, it’s a familiar little rhyme, a throwback to childhood. For those in major cities like New York ― where real bedbugs turn once-happy people into balls of despair and anxiety ― it can also conjure a visceral sense of terror. Say it to anyone who’s dealt with the nightmare of bedbugs and watch them visibly flinch. But when did this little rhyme appear on the scene? And what did it initially refer to? Fossils and early texts indicate that bedbugs existed as far back as ancient Egypt and Rome under various names. Colonization and industrialization fostered their spread in North America, until DDT and other pesticides wiped out most of them in the mid-20th century. There are multiple origin theories around the rhyme, specifically the “sleep tight” portion and its relation to “don’t let the bedbugs bite.” One popular theory suggests that it relates to the way beds were made during the 16th and 17th centuries. Before the introduction of spring mattresses in the 19th century, mattresses were often filled with straw and feathers and sat on a latticework of ropes. Because it was necessary to tighten the ropes regularly to prevent sagging, many have suggested this practice is the origin of the phrase 'sleep tight.'”   Interesting, huh?    WANNA KNOW MORE? Do English better     So THAT explains it!   File this under things you know you're curious about: why you're getting more drunk than you realize -- and what you can do about it.  Long read we're loving: Waiting in line. It’s an annoying and ever-present fact of life. But why? This longform story from Racked explains the cultural institution, especially in cities, that is waiting in line.   NO SOUP FOR YOU! Get more cultured: In The Future We May All Talk Like Trump, Linguist Warns. Sad. It’s Time To Rethink What We Consider An Oscar Performance The ABCs of Gen Z    .     No moon dust. No B.S. Just a completely essential daily guide to achieving the good life. Subscribe here. Like what you see? Share it. Can't get enough? You'll also love: HuffPost Must Reads. ©2018 HuffPost | 770 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 You are receiving this email because you signed up for updates from HuffPost Feedback | Privacy Policy | Unsubscribe    . - - Preferences  |  Unsubscribe