put-you-up

A put-you-up is British English for a folding or sofa bed — the kind of improvised sleeping solution that gets dragged out when guests arrive and floor space becomes a premium. The name comes from the act of 'putting someone up' (giving them a place to stay), and the bed itself is the physical object that makes that hospitality possible. It folds away discreetly and re-emerges when needed, making it a staple of small British flats and family spare rooms.