bed sheets

Meaning

These are large pieces of cloth (usually cotton or polyester) used to cover a mattress and to sleep under. In a hotel or hostel context, you might need to ask for clean ones or check if they are provided. It is a neutral, everyday term.

Examples

• Could you please send some clean bed sheets to room 304?

  Could you please send some clean bed sheets to room 304?

• The hostel provides a pillow and blanket, but you have to rent the bed sheets.

  The hostel provides a pillow and blanket, but you have to rent the bed sheets.

• I always check the bed sheets for cleanliness as soon as I check into a hotel.

  I always check the bed sheets for cleanliness as soon as I check into a hotel.

• These bed sheets are incredibly soft and comfortable.

  These bed sheets are incredibly soft and comfortable.

• She washed the bed sheets and hung them out to dry in the sun.

  She washed the bed sheets and hung them out to dry in the sun.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The hotel clerk gave me new bed papers.

  ✓ The hotel clerk gave me new bed sheets.

  'Sheets' is the correct term for fabric bedding. 'Papers' is a literal translation error from some languages or a confusion of materials.

• ✗ I need to change my bed clothes.

  ✓ I need to change my bed sheets.

  'Bedclothes' is an old-fashioned term that refers to all bedding (including blankets and duvets), whereas 'bed sheets' specifically refers to the fabric sheets you sleep on.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The maid comes every morning to change the ___.

  💡 The large pieces of cloth covering the mattress.

  Show answer

  bed sheets

• Are the ___ included in the price of the hostel room?

  💡 The linens you sleep on.

  Show answer

  bed sheets