bedfellow

be strange bedfellows

Of a pair of people, things, or groups paired together in a certain situation or activity, to be extremely different in overall characteristics, opinions, ideologies, lifestyles, behaviors, etc. The liberal comedian and the conservative pundit may be strange bedfellows, but the two are coming together all this month to bring a spotlight to suicide awareness. I thought that the two writers would be strange bedfellows, given the drastically different nature of their writing, but their books actually have a lot of parallels in terms of themes and constructs. A: "Wait, you're working with Ken on this? But he's so uptight, and you're so… not." B: "I know, we're strange bedfellows, but things have been going shockingly well so far."

See also: bedfellow, strange

bedfellows

1. Literally, one who shares a bed with someone else. A: "This bed's big enough for two, so we can be bedfellows for the night." B: "No way! Not after you kicked me last time." My husband snores, so I think those old-fashioned couples had it right not to be bedfellows. So you have to be bedfellows with your little sister for a night. Stop complaining!

2. Someone closely connected to or associated with someone else. A notorious playboy musician and an ultra-conservative media pundit may be strange bedfellows, but the two are coming together all this month to bring a spotlight to suicide awareness. I thought that the two writers would make odd bedfellows, given the drastically different nature of their writing, but the books they've co-written actually work really well. A: "Wait, you're working with Ken on this? But he's so uptight, and you're so… not." B: "I know, we're not ideal bedfellows, but things have been going shockingly well so far."

See also: bedfellow

make odd bedfellows

Of a pair of people, things, or groups, to be connected in a certain situation or activity but to be extremely different in overall characteristics, opinions, ideologies, lifestyles, behaviors, etc. A notorious playboy musician and a buttoned-up media pundit may make odd bedfellows, but the two are coming together this month to bring a spotlight to suicide awareness. I thought that the two writers would make odd bedfellows for this class, given the drastically different nature of their writing, but their books actually have a lot of parallels in terms of themes and constructs.

See also: bedfellow, make, odd

make strange bedfellows

Of a pair of people, things, or groups paired together in a certain situation or activity, to be extremely different in overall characteristics, opinions, ideologies, lifestyles, behaviors, etc. The liberal comedian and the conservative pundit may make strange bedfellows, but the two are coming together all this month to bring a spotlight to suicide awareness. I thought that the two writers would make strange bedfellows, given the drastically different nature of their writing, but their books actually have a lot of parallels in terms of themes and constructs.

See also: bedfellow, make, strange

odd bedfellows

A pair of people, things, or groups connected in a certain situation or activity but extremely different in overall characteristics, opinions, ideologies, lifestyles, behaviors, etc. A notorious playboy musician and an ultra-conservative media pundit may be odd bedfellows, but the two are coming together all this month to bring a spotlight to suicide awareness. I thought that the two writers would make odd bedfellows, given the drastically different nature of their writing, but the books they've co-written actually work really well.

See also: bedfellow, odd

politics makes strange bedfellows

proverb The pursuit of a political agenda or advantage often results in people working together who would not otherwise normally socialize with one another. A prominent gun-rights advocate and a famous animal welfare activist have come together to champion the new legislation. Politics makes strange bedfellows.

See also: bedfellow, make, politics, strange

strange bedfellows

A pair of people, things, or groups connected in a certain situation or activity but extremely different in overall characteristics, opinions, ideologies, lifestyles, behaviors, etc. A notorious playboy musician and an ultra-conservative media pundit may be strange bedfellows, but the two are coming together all this month to bring a spotlight to suicide awareness. I thought that the two writers would make strange bedfellows, given the drastically different nature of their writing, but the books they've co-written actually work really well.

See also: bedfellow, strange

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

Politics makes strange bedfellows.

Prov. People who would normally dislike and avoid one another will work together if they think it is politically useful to do so. Jill: I never would have thought that genteel, aristocratic candidate would pick such a rabble-rousing, rough-mannered running mate. Jane: Politics makes strange bedfellows.

See also: bedfellow, make, politics, strange

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

strange bedfellows

A peculiar alliance or combination, as in George and Arthur really are strange bedfellows, sharing the same job but totally different in their views . Although strictly speaking bedfellows are persons who share a bed, like husband and wife, the term has been used figuratively since the late 1400s. This particular idiom may have been invented by Shakespeare in The Tempest (2:2), "Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows." Today a common extension is politics makes strange bedfellows, meaning that politicians form peculiar associations so as to win more votes. A similar term is odd couple, a pair who share either housing or a business but are very different in most ways. This term gained currency with Neil Simon's Broadway play The Odd Couple and, even more, with the motion picture (1968) and subsequent television series based on it, contrasting housemates Felix and Oscar, one meticulously neat and obsessively punctual, the other extremely messy and casual.

See also: bedfellow, strange

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

be/make strange ˈbedfellows

be two very different people or things that you would not expect to find together: Art and rugby may seem strange bedfellows, but the local rugby club donated £5 000 to help fund an art exhibition.

A bedfellow is a person who shares a bed with somebody else.

See also: bedfellow, make, strange

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

strange bedfellows

An odd couple; a peculiar combination. Shakespeare appears to have originated the term, with his “Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows” (The Tempest, 2.2). Several centuries later, Edward Bulwer-Lytton wrote (The Caxtons, 1849), “Poverty has strange bedfellows.” Today we often say that politics makes strange bedfellows, meaning that politicians form odd associations in order to win more support or votes.

See also: bedfellow, strange

The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer