To get out of bed on the wrong side, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To be
testy or cross-grained. [A corruption of an old saying, ‘To rise on the
right side is accounted lucky’; hence the reverse meant trials to
temper, patience, and luck.]
1607. Marston, What You Will. You rise on your right side to-day,
marry.
1608. Machin, Dumb Knight, iv., 1. Sure I said my prayers, ris’d on
my right side, Wash’d hands and eyes, put on my girdle last; Sure I
met no splea-footed baker, No hare did cross me, nor no bearded
witch, Nor other ominous sign.
1614. Terence in English. C. What doth shee keepe house alreadie?
D. Alreadie. C. O good God!; we rose on the right side to-day.
1647. Beaumont and Fletcher, i. Women Pleased. You rose o’ your
right side.
1890. Globe, 15 May, p. 2, col. 2. Some of them had—if we may
employ such a vulgar expression—got out of bed on the wrong side.
To get out (or Round), verb. phr. (racing).—To back a horse against
which one has previously laid; to Hedge (q.v.).
1884. Hawley Smart, From Post to Finish, p. 318. He had an idea
Johnson was this time cleverly working a very well authorised
commission, and that he personally had taken more than one
opportunity of what is termed getting out.
To get set, verb. phr. (cricketing).—1. To warm to one’s work at the
wicket, and collar the bowling; to get one’s eye well in.
To get there, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To attain one’s object; to be
successful; to make one’s jack (q.v.); to get there with both feet = to
be very successful.
1887. Francis, Saddle and Mocassin. He said as he’d been gambling,
and was two hundred dollars ahead of the town. He got there with
both feet at starting.
1888. New York Herald, 29 July. Although not a delegate he got
there all the same.