# notch on one's bedpost

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/notch-on-ones-bedpost
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A sexual conquest; a casual sexual partner.

## Examples

- He views every new date as just another notch on his bedpost.
- They worry that the traveler sees them as a notch on his bedpost.
- He does not want to be just another notch on her bedpost.
- She felt insulted when she realized he treated their relationship as nothing more than a notch on his bedpost.
- The rumors suggest he only dates famous people because he wants an impressive notch on his bedpost to show off to his friends.
- After years of casual dating, she decided she was tired of being treated like a notch on someone's bedpost and looked for a real connection.
- The protagonist boasted of his romantic exploits, treating each woman he encountered as a mere notch on his bedpost rather than a person.

## Origin

The idiom originates from the supposed practice of recording the count of one's sexual conquests by carving physical indentations into the wooden frame of a bed. A notch would be added to the bedpost to mark each new partner, serving as a primitive and remarkably indiscreet tally.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.