Sickness affects everyone at some point, and it can be frustrating. Sometimes, we use idioms to talk about being sick or feeling unwell. These expressions help explain how we feel in a fun and creative way. In this article, we will explore some common idioms about sickness.
Idioms make language more interesting. They are phrases that do not mean exactly what the words say. For example, saying “feeling under the weather” does not mean you’re actually outside in bad weather. Instead, it means you’re not feeling well. Learning these idioms will help you understand how people talk about sickness in everyday conversations.
Idioms About Sickness
1. Feeling under the weather
Meaning: To feel sick or unwell.
Example Sentence:
- “I think I’m feeling a little under the weather today, so I’m going to stay home.”
- “She’s been feeling under the weather all week.”
Other ways to say: Feeling ill, not feeling well, feeling off.
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom comes from sailors who would feel sick during storms.
Usage: Used when someone is sick or not feeling their best.
2. Catch a cold
Meaning: To become sick with a cold.
Example Sentence:
- “I think I caught a cold after being out in the rain.”
- “I hope I don’t catch a cold before the big game.”
Other ways to say: Get sick, catch something, come down with something.
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase likely came from the idea that cold weather makes you more likely to get sick.
Usage: Used when someone gets a cold.
3. Out of sorts
Meaning: To feel sick or not quite right.
Example Sentence:
- “I’m feeling out of sorts today; I think I’m getting a cold.”
- “She was a little out of sorts after the flu.”
Other ways to say: Feeling off, not feeling right, out of it.
Fun Fact/Origin: “Out of sorts” used to mean being in a bad mood, but over time it also started to mean feeling physically unwell.
Usage: Used when you feel sick or off.
4. Under the weather
Meaning: To be sick or not feeling well.
Example Sentence:
- “He’s under the weather, so he won’t be at school today.”
- “I’m a bit under the weather, but I’ll be okay by tomorrow.”
Other ways to say: Feeling ill, unwell, sick.
Fun Fact/Origin: Originally used in the 1800s by sailors, meaning they were sick because of bad weather at sea.
Usage: Used to describe feeling sick or weak.
5. Green around the gills
Meaning: To look pale or sick, especially from nausea.
Example Sentence:
- “You look green around the gills—are you feeling okay?”
- “She turned green around the gills after the rollercoaster ride.”
Other ways to say: Look pale, look sick, feeling queasy.
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase likely comes from the color green, which is often associated with sickness.
Usage: Used to describe someone who looks sick or nauseous.
6. Knocked out
Meaning: To be so sick or tired that you are unable to function.
Example Sentence:
- “The flu really knocked me out for the whole weekend.”
- “She was knocked out by the cold and spent all day in bed.”
Other ways to say: Laid up, out cold, wiped out.
Fun Fact/Origin: The phrase comes from boxing, where a knockout means a person is too out of it to continue.
Usage: Used when someone is too sick or tired to do anything.
7. In bad shape
Meaning: To be in poor health or feeling very sick.
Example Sentence:
- “He’s in bad shape after that stomach bug.”
- “She was in bad shape after the long flu.”
Other ways to say: In rough shape, feeling terrible, under the weather.
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase may have originated from people being physically injured or ill and unable to move easily.
Usage: Used when someone is very sick or struggling with health.
8. Not one’s usual self
Meaning: To feel different, usually because of being sick or unwell.
Example Sentence:
- “He’s not his usual self today—he must be coming down with something.”
- “She wasn’t her usual self after her cold.”
Other ways to say: Off, not feeling right, acting differently.
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom suggests that when you’re sick, you don’t act like you normally would.
Usage: Used to describe someone who is behaving or feeling unusually because of sickness.
9. Come down with something
Meaning: To become sick with a disease or illness.
Example Sentence:
- “I think I’m coming down with a cold.”
- “She came down with the flu last week.”
Other ways to say: Catch something, get sick, develop symptoms.
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom suggests that sickness comes down on you, almost like it’s something that happens to you.
Usage: Used when someone starts to feel the symptoms of a sickness.
10. A bad case of the flu
Meaning: To have a severe or bad version of the flu.
Example Sentence:
- “I had a bad case of the flu last winter and was in bed for days.”
- “She missed school because of a bad case of the flu.”
Other ways to say: Severe flu, bad flu, tough flu.
Fun Fact/Origin: The flu is a common illness, and when it’s severe, it can feel like a “bad case.”
Usage: Used when someone has a particularly bad version of the flu.
11. Take to your bed
Meaning: To stay in bed due to sickness.
Example Sentence:
- “I had to take to my bed for a few days because of the flu.”
- “He took to his bed after catching a cold.”
Other ways to say: Stay in bed, rest, take it easy.
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom comes from the idea that being sick requires resting in bed to recover.
Usage: Used when someone stays in bed to recover from an illness.
12. Sick as a dog
Meaning: To be very sick.
Example Sentence:
- “He was sick as a dog after eating that spoiled food.”
- “I was sick as a dog all weekend with a stomach bug.”
Other ways to say: Very sick, extremely ill, badly sick.
Fun Fact/Origin: This expression comes from the idea that dogs get very sick when they’re unwell.
Usage: Used to describe someone who is extremely sick.
13. On the mend
Meaning: To be getting better after being sick.
Example Sentence:
- “I’m on the mend after my cold, but I’m not 100% yet.”
- “She’s on the mend after the flu and should be back at school soon.”
Other ways to say: Getting better, recovering, on the road to recovery.
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase likely comes from the idea of healing or “mending” after an injury or illness.
Usage: Used when someone is improving after being sick.
14. Feeling off
Meaning: To feel unwell or not like yourself.
Example Sentence:
- “I’ve been feeling off all morning; I think I’m getting a cold.”
- “He’s feeling off today and decided to stay home from school.”
Other ways to say: Not feeling right, feeling strange, feeling odd.
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase is often used to describe minor sickness or feeling “not quite right.”
Usage: Used when someone is feeling unwell but not terribly sick.
15. Under the weather
Meaning: To be unwell or sick.
Example Sentence:
- “She’s under the weather and won’t make it to the meeting.”
- “I was feeling under the weather last week, but I’m better now.”
Other ways to say: Feeling sick, ill, not well.
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom was originally used by sailors to describe someone who was sick due to bad weather.
Usage: Used when someone feels sick or unwell.
16. A touch of flu
Meaning: To have a mild case of the flu.
Example Sentence:
- “I think I have a touch of the flu, but it’s nothing too serious.”
- “She had a touch of the flu but was back to normal after a few days.”
Other ways to say: Mild flu, slight flu, a little sick.
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom refers to a small or mild case of the flu.
Usage: Used when someone has a mild version of the flu or is only a little sick.
17. Feeling blue
Meaning: To feel sad or unwell.
Example Sentence:
- “She’s been feeling blue since she caught that cold.”
- “I’m feeling blue today because I’m sick.”
Other ways to say: Feeling down, feeling sad, low spirits.
Fun Fact/Origin: The color blue has often been linked with sadness or melancholy.
Usage: Used when someone feels down or unwell emotionally.
18. Put on ice
Meaning: To temporarily stop or delay something due to illness.
Example Sentence:
- “We had to put the project on ice because of his flu.”
- “Her plans were put on ice when she got a bad cold.”
Other ways to say: Delay, hold off, postpone.
Fun Fact/Origin: Putting something on ice means to cool it down or stop it, just as ice can slow down the process of something.
Usage: Used when something is temporarily delayed because of sickness.
19. Ailing
Meaning: To be sick or in poor health.
Example Sentence:
- “She’s been ailing for the past week with a terrible cold.”
- “He’s ailing and has been resting at home.”
Other ways to say: Ill, sick, unwell.
Fun Fact/Origin: “Ailing” comes from an older term used to describe someone who is sick or suffering.
Usage: Used to describe someone who is experiencing sickness.
20. Sickly
Meaning: To be weak or constantly sick.
Example Sentence:
- “He looks sickly and has been coughing all day.”
- “She felt sickly after catching the flu.”
Other ways to say: Unwell, pale, frail.
Fun Fact/Origin: This word has been used since the 16th century to describe someone who is weak or ill.
Usage: Used to describe someone who often appears sick or frail.
21. Burned out
Meaning: To feel physically or emotionally exhausted, often from illness.
Example Sentence:
- “After a week of being sick, I feel completely burned out.”
- “He’s been burned out from the flu and needs some rest.”
Other ways to say: Exhausted, drained, wiped out.
Fun Fact/Origin: “Burned out” originally referred to feeling tired after overworking, but now it is also used for illness-related exhaustion.
Usage: Used when someone is extremely tired, often from being sick.
22. Coming down with something
Meaning: To begin to feel sick or show symptoms of an illness.
Example Sentence:
- “I think I’m coming down with something—my throat feels scratchy.”
- “She’s coming down with the flu and stayed home from school.”
Other ways to say: Catching something, getting sick, starting to feel ill.
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom suggests that an illness slowly takes over the body, starting from the early signs.
Usage: Used when someone starts to feel the early symptoms of illness.
23. Have a bug
Meaning: To have a mild illness, often a stomach bug or cold.
Example Sentence:
- “I think I’ve got a bug—I’ve been feeling sick all morning.”
- “She has a bug and is staying in bed.”
Other ways to say: Have a virus, have a cold, feel unwell.
Fun Fact/Origin: “Bug” is often used to refer to any minor illness, like a cold or stomach virus.
Usage: Used to describe having a minor illness or virus.
24. Rest up
Meaning: To get enough rest to recover from illness.
Example Sentence:
- “You should rest up if you’re feeling sick.”
- “He took a few days off to rest up and get better.”
Other ways to say: Get some rest, lie down, take it easy.
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase is used to encourage someone to relax and recover from illness.
Usage: Used when advising someone to take it easy to recover from being sick.
25. Take it easy
Meaning: To rest and not overexert yourself, often due to being sick.
Example Sentence:
- “You need to take it easy while you’re recovering from your cold.”
- “After the flu, I had to take it easy for a week.”
Other ways to say: Relax, rest, slow down.
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom is often used to encourage rest and recovery.
Usage: Used when someone is advised to take it slow to recover from an illness.
26. Under the knife
Meaning: To have surgery.
Example Sentence:
- “He had to go under the knife for his knee surgery.”
- “She’s nervous about going under the knife for her appendix.”
Other ways to say: Have surgery, get operated on, undergo surgery.
Fun Fact/Origin: The phrase comes from the idea of using a knife for surgical procedures.
Usage: Used when someone is having surgery.
27. Out of commission
Meaning: To be temporarily unable to do something because of illness.
Example Sentence:
- “I’m out of commission for the next few days because of my cold.”
- “He’s out of commission after having surgery.”
Other ways to say: Unable to function, off duty, on the sidelines.
Fun Fact/Origin: The phrase comes from machinery or equipment that is temporarily not working.
Usage: Used when someone is temporarily unable to work or do something due to sickness.
28. Not up to par
Meaning: To not feel as good as usual, often because of illness.
Example Sentence:
- “I’m not up to par today; I think I’m getting a cold.”
- “He wasn’t up to par after his long illness.”
Other ways to say: Not feeling right, not feeling well, off.
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase comes from sports, where “par” means the standard level of performance.
Usage: Used when someone is not feeling their best due to sickness.
29. Cold as ice
Meaning: To be sick with chills or a cold, often implying physical weakness.
Example Sentence:
- “She felt cold as ice after being out in the snow all day.”
- “He was cold as ice with a high fever.”
Other ways to say: Freezing, chilly, cold.
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom often relates to the chills that come with a fever.
Usage: Used to describe someone feeling extremely cold or shivery because of illness.
30. A shot in the arm
Meaning: Something that helps improve health or gives energy.
Example Sentence:
- “The doctor gave me a shot in the arm to help me recover from the flu.”
- “A good night’s sleep is like a shot in the arm when you’re sick.”
Other ways to say: Boost, pick-me-up, energy boost.
Fun Fact/Origin: This comes from the idea of getting a shot to help improve your health.
Usage: Used when something helps to improve someone’s health or energy.
31. On the sick list
Meaning: To be absent from work or school due to illness.
Example Sentence:
- “I’ve been on the sick list all week with a terrible cold.”
- “He’s on the sick list today because of a bad cough.”
Other ways to say: Out sick, absent, unwell.
Fun Fact/Origin: The term comes from the idea of a list where people who are ill are recorded as being absent.
Usage: Used when someone is absent from work or school because of being sick.
32. Drop like flies
Meaning: When many people become sick or ill at once.
Example Sentence:
- “After the flu hit, people started dropping like flies at school.”
- “The kids were dropping like flies after the stomach bug went around.”
Other ways to say: Fall ill, get sick, go down with something.
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom comes from the idea of flies falling quickly when they die, often used to describe multiple people becoming sick at the same time.
Usage: Used when a lot of people become sick all at once.
33. In no shape to
Meaning: To be too sick or weak to do something.
Example Sentence:
- “He’s in no shape to go to work today after catching the flu.”
- “I’m in no shape to play soccer; I’m too sick.”
Other ways to say: Not able to, not up to it, too weak for.
Fun Fact/Origin: This idiom relates to someone being physically or mentally unfit to perform an activity due to illness.
Usage: Used when someone is too sick or weak to do something.
34. A dose of medicine
Meaning: To take medicine to feel better.
Example Sentence:
- “I took a dose of medicine to help me feel better.”
- “She needed a dose of medicine to get over her cold.”
Other ways to say: Medicine, treatment, remedy.
Fun Fact/Origin: A “dose” is a specific amount of medicine, often taken to help with sickness.
Usage: Used when referring to the amount of medicine someone takes to recover from illness.
35. Feeling like death warmed over
Meaning: To feel extremely sick or weak.
Example Sentence:
- “I felt like death warmed over after being sick for days.”
- “She looks like death warmed over—she should rest.”
Other ways to say: Feel terrible, feel awful, feel really sick.
Fun Fact/Origin: The phrase exaggerates how bad someone feels by comparing them to a dead body, suggesting they feel very weak or ill.
Usage: Used to describe someone feeling extremely ill or weak.
36. Cough up a lung
Meaning: To cough very hard, often when sick.
Example Sentence:
- “He’s been coughing up a lung all night because of his cold.”
- “She was coughing up a lung after the flu hit.”
Other ways to say: Cough badly, have a bad cough, hacking cough.
Fun Fact/Origin: The phrase emphasizes how intense a cough can feel, though it is not meant literally.
Usage: Used when someone is coughing a lot or very loudly.
37. As sick as a dog
Meaning: To be extremely sick, usually with a cold or flu.
Example Sentence:
- “I was as sick as a dog last week with the flu.”
- “He’s as sick as a dog and can’t make it to school today.”
Other ways to say: Very sick, extremely ill, terribly unwell.
Fun Fact/Origin: The phrase likely comes from the idea that dogs can become very sick and weak.
Usage: Used when someone is feeling very ill.
38. Under the weather
Meaning: To be feeling sick or unwell.
Example Sentence:
- “I’m feeling a bit under the weather today; I’ll stay home.”
- “He’s been under the weather for the past few days.”
Other ways to say: Feeling ill, not feeling well, not up to it.
Fun Fact/Origin: Sailors originally used this phrase to describe being ill during storms at sea.
Usage: Used when someone is not feeling well, usually from a cold or minor illness.
39. Off-colour
Meaning: To look pale or unwell, often from sickness.
Example Sentence:
- “He looked off-colour after catching the flu.”
- “She was looking a bit off-colour and went home early.”
Other ways to say: Pale, sickly, unwell.
Fun Fact/Origin: “Off-colour” refers to the way someone’s appearance might change when they are sick.
Usage: Used when someone doesn’t look well or seems a little sick.
40. A sick day
Meaning: A day taken off from work or school due to illness.
Example Sentence:
- “I’m taking a sick day today because I’ve got a cold.”
- “She stayed home for a sick day after feeling unwell.”
Other ways to say: Day off, day of rest, sick leave.
Fun Fact/Origin: “Sick day” is a common term used in workplaces and schools when someone stays home because of illness.
Usage: Used when someone takes time off due to being sick.
41. In the hospital
Meaning: To be admitted to a hospital due to a serious illness or surgery.
Example Sentence:
- “She’s in the hospital after having surgery on her knee.”
- “He’s in the hospital with a bad case of pneumonia.”
Other ways to say: In the clinic, in care, at the hospital.
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase is a straightforward way of saying someone is staying in a hospital for treatment.
Usage: Used when someone is staying in the hospital due to illness or surgery.
42. At death’s door
Meaning: To be very close to death, often from a serious illness.
Example Sentence:
- “He was at death’s door after the terrible accident but is now recovering.”
- “She was at death’s door after the flu but made a full recovery.”
Other ways to say: Very sick, near death, critically ill.
Fun Fact/Origin: This dramatic idiom has been used for centuries to describe someone in extremely poor health.
Usage: Used to describe someone who is very ill, close to death.
43. On the brink of recovery
Meaning: To be very close to getting better after being sick.
Example Sentence:
- “She’s on the brink of recovery after being sick for a week.”
- “He’s on the brink of recovery from the flu.”
Other ways to say: Almost better, nearly well, almost recovered.
Fun Fact/Origin: The phrase suggests that someone is near the point where their health improves after illness.
Usage: Used when someone is almost better after being sick.
44. Resting up
Meaning: To take time to relax and recover from an illness.
Example Sentence:
- “I’ve been resting up all weekend to get over this cold.”
- “She’s been resting up after her surgery.”
Other ways to say: Taking it easy, lying down, recuperating.
Fun Fact/Origin: “Resting up” emphasizes the need for rest and recovery to regain strength.
Usage: Used when someone is recovering from sickness by resting.
45. A little under the weather
Meaning: To feel a bit sick, but not severely.
Example Sentence:
- “I’m feeling a little under the weather today, but I’ll be fine.”
- “She’s just a little under the weather, so she’s staying home from school.”
Other ways to say: Not feeling well, a bit sick, feeling off.
Fun Fact/Origin: This phrase is a slight variation of “under the weather,” often used to indicate a minor illness.
Usage: Used when someone feels slightly sick but is not seriously ill.
Quiz: Idioms About Sickness
Instructions: Read each question and the answer choices carefully. Pick the letter that best matches the meaning of the phrase or expression.
Question Key
1. If someone is “feeling blue,” what does that mean?
A) They’re feeling sick and sad.
B) They’re feeling very happy.
C) They’re feeling really tired.
2. If someone is “under the weather,” what does it mean?
A) They’re feeling sick.
B) They’re feeling really hot.
C) They’re feeling cold.
3. If someone is “as sick as a dog,” what does that mean?
A) They’re feeling great.
B) They’re feeling very ill.
C) They’re feeling okay.
4. When someone is “coming down with something,” what does it mean?
A) They are starting to feel sick.
B) They are feeling better.
C) They are getting excited about something.
5. If someone says they’re “feeling like death warmed over,” what does that mean?
A) They feel energetic and happy.
B) They feel very sick and weak.
C) They feel cold.
6. What does “drop like flies” mean?
A) A lot of people are getting sick at once.
B) People are getting very healthy.
C) People are sleeping.
7. If you’re “in no shape to” do something, what does that mean?
A) You are very healthy.
B) You’re too sick or tired to do something.
C) You’re excited to do something.
8. When someone says they’re “resting up,” what do they mean?
A) They’re playing outside.
B) They’re relaxing to recover from being sick.
C) They’re going to work.
9. If you have “a bug,” what does that mean?
A) You’re feeling very sick with a cold or stomach illness.
B) You have an actual bug.
C) You feel fine.
10. If someone is “out of commission,” what does that mean?
A) They’re feeling great.
B) They can’t do anything because they are sick.
C) They are working very hard.
Answer Key
- A) They’re feeling sick and sad.
- A) They’re feeling sick.
- B) They’re feeling very ill.
- A) They are starting to feel sick.
- B) They feel very sick and weak.
- A) A lot of people are getting sick at once.
- B) You’re too sick or tired to do something.
- B) They’re relaxing to recover from being sick.
- A) You’re feeling very sick with a cold or stomach illness.
- B) They can’t do anything because they are sick.
Wrapping Up
Sickness idioms help us talk about feeling unwell in a fun and creative way. These phrases are often used in everyday conversations, making them an easy way to express how we feel when we’re sick. Understanding idioms can also help us sound more natural when we talk about health and illness.
Now that you know some common idioms about sickness, you can use them to describe how you feel or how others might be feeling. Whether you’re talking about being “under the weather” or “feeling like death warmed over,” these idioms make it easier to communicate sickness in a way that’s familiar and clear. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be able to use these idioms with ease!
