between you, me, and the bedpost

English

Alternative forms

• between you and me and the bedpost, between you, me and the bedpost, between you, me, and the fencepost, between you, me, and the gatepost, between you, me, and the lamppost, between you, me, and the post

Etymology

Humorous emphatic form of between you and me, by anthropomorphizing an (ostensibly mute) bedpost. Compare dumb as a post.

Prepositional phrase

between you, me, and the bedpost

1. (idiomatic) between you and me
   • 1832, Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Eugene Aram:

     Between you and me and the bed-post – young master’s quarrelled with old master.

Related terms

• dumb as a post

References

• “Between you, me and the bed-post”, The Phrase Finder, Gary Martin.