Bedside manners

Posted by David FG on May 11, 2005

In Reply to: Bedside manners posted by James Briggs on May 10, 2005

: : What did the phrase "good bedside manners" come from?

: It's certainly old in the UK. It was first used, I believe, to describe a doctor's attitude/ambience when examining a sick patient in their bed. If the doctor had a 'good bedside manner', treated the patient with respect and care, then the patient gained reassurance in the likely outcome of their illness.

And in my experience it is always 'bedside manner', not 'manners'. That would alter the meaning a little, I think.

DFG