come to bed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "come to bed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when inviting someone to join you in bed, typically for sleeping or intimacy. Example: "After a long day, I just want to relax and tell you to come to bed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

"Come to bed, please, Dmitri".

The New Yorker

"Come to bed".

The Guardian - Books

Armstrong urged her to come to bed.

The New Yorker

But Ida never did come to bed.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

His girlfriend kept telling him to come to bed.

The New York Times

Her credulous husband (John C. Reilly) calls to her, asking her to come to bed.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

Papa was coming to bed.

The Guardian - Books

He's coming to bed now.

The Guardian

"Are you coming to bed?" "Yes," she says.

The New Yorker

He was barely aware of her coming to bed.

The New Yorker

Finally he comes to bed & they sleep in each other's arms, like a cocoon.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Be mindful of the context; the phrase can imply intimacy depending on the relationship with the person you're addressing.

Common error

Avoid using "come to bed" in professional or formal settings unless the situation explicitly warrants it. The phrase is generally appropriate only in intimate or familiar contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "come to bed" functions as an imperative, directly inviting or requesting someone to join the speaker in bed. As evidenced by Ludwig, it is commonly used in dialogues to express such invitation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Wiki

2%

Science

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

2%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "come to bed" is a grammatically sound and commonly used imperative phrase for inviting someone to sleep or rest with you. According to Ludwig, this phrase appears most frequently in News & Media. It is suitable for informal contexts, particularly among people with close relationships. When using "come to bed", be mindful of the context to ensure it aligns with the intended tone and relationship. For more formal or professional settings, alternative phrases may be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Join me in bed

More direct and less suggestive than the original phrase.

Let's go to bed

A general suggestion for both parties to retire for the night.

Time for bed

Suggests that it's the appropriate hour to go to sleep.

Shall we retire

More formal and old-fashioned way of proposing going to bed.

Want to turn in

An informal and friendly way of suggesting going to bed.

Ready to sleep

Asks if someone is prepared for sleep.

Fancy a snooze

British English, suggesting a nap or sleep.

Care to lie down

Suggests resting but not necessarily sleeping.

Bedtime

A simple statement that it is time to go to bed.

Let's hit the hay

Informal and idiomatic expression for going to bed.

FAQs

How can I use "come to bed" in a sentence?

You can use "come to bed" to invite someone to sleep or rest with you, such as, "It's late, why don't you come to bed?" or "She told me to come to bed after I finished working".

What's a more formal alternative to "come to bed"?

While "come to bed" is generally informal, a more formal alternative could be "Shall we retire for the night?" or "Would you care to "join me in bed"?" depending on the intended meaning and relationship.

Is "come to bed" appropriate in professional settings?

No, "come to bed" is generally inappropriate in professional settings unless the context is highly unusual. It's better suited for personal and intimate contexts.

What are some less direct ways to suggest going to bed?

Instead of saying "come to bed", you could say "let's go to bed", "it's bedtime", or "time for bed" to imply that it's time to sleep without directly inviting someone to join you.