Sometimes we don’t feel well. We might have a cold, a fever, or just feel very tired. In English, there are many ways to talk about being sick. People often use idioms phrases that don’t mean exactly what the words say. These idioms can make speaking more interesting and fun, even when the topic is about not feeling well.
In this article, we will look at some common idioms people use when they are sick. You’ll learn what each idiom means and how to use it in a sentence. These expressions can help you understand others better and improve your own speaking. Let’s explore how people talk about feeling under the weather.
Idioms for Being Sick
1. Under the weather
Meaning: Feeling sick or not well.
Example: I stayed home from school because I was under the weather. / My mom is under the weather today.
Put Differently: Not feeling good. / A little sick.
2. Come down with (something)
Meaning: To start getting sick.
Example: I think I’m coming down with a cold. / She came down with the flu last night.
Put Differently: I’m getting sick. / I feel like I’m catching something.
3. Feeling blue
Meaning: Feeling sad or not well.
Example: He’s feeling blue after missing school for a week. / I was feeling blue all weekend.
Put Differently: Not happy or healthy. / Feeling down.
4. As pale as a ghost
Meaning: Looking very pale and sick.
Example: After throwing up, he looked as pale as a ghost. / She was as pale as a ghost during the nurse visit.
Put Differently: Skin looked white and sickly. / Didn’t look healthy.
5. Sick as a dog
Meaning: Very sick.
Example: I was sick as a dog after eating spoiled food. / He was sick as a dog with the flu.
Put Differently: Very badly sick. / Feeling awful.
6. Not feeling myself
Meaning: Not feeling normal or healthy.
Example: I didn’t go out because I wasn’t feeling myself. / She stayed in bed because she wasn’t feeling herself.
Put Differently: Not how I usually feel. / Feeling off.
7. Laid up
Meaning: Stuck in bed because of sickness.
Example: I was laid up for three days with a cold. / She’s laid up with the flu.
Put Differently: Resting in bed while sick. / Couldn’t get up.
8. Catch a bug
Meaning: Get a small illness like a cold or flu.
Example: I caught a bug at school. / Everyone in class caught a bug this week.
Put Differently: Got sick. / Picked up a virus.
9. Throwing up
Meaning: To vomit.
Example: I was throwing up all night. / My brother started throwing up after lunch.
Put Differently: I couldn’t keep food down. / I felt really sick.
10. Run down
Meaning: Feeling very tired and sick.
Example: I felt run down after the busy week. / Mom said I look run down.
Put Differently: Really tired and weak. / Not healthy.
11. Under the doctor’s care
Meaning: Seeing a doctor for sickness.
Example: He’s under the doctor’s care for a cough. / I’ve been under the doctor’s care since Tuesday.
Put Differently: The doctor is helping me get better. / I’m getting medical help.
12. Look like death warmed over
Meaning: Looking very sick or tired.
Example: He looked like death warmed over at school. / You look like death warmed over go home and rest.
Put Differently: Look very unwell. / My face looks bad.
13. Down with the flu
Meaning: Sick with the flu.
Example: I’m down with the flu today. / My cousin is down with the flu this week.
Put Differently: I have the flu. / Sick with fever and chills.
14. On the mend
Meaning: Starting to feel better.
Example: I’m finally on the mend after a week in bed. / She’s on the mend now.
Put Differently: Getting better. / Not fully well, but improving.
15. In bad shape
Meaning: In poor health.
Example: He was in bad shape after the flu. / Grandma’s been in bad shape lately.
Put Differently: Not feeling good. / Very sick.
16. Out of sorts
Meaning: Not feeling right.
Example: I felt out of sorts all day. / He was out of sorts after lunch.
Put Differently: Just not right. / Something feels off.
17. In a funk
Meaning: Feeling low or unwell.
Example: She’s in a funk after being sick all week. / I was in a funk and didn’t want to do anything.
Put Differently: Feeling down. / Not in the mood.
18. Bug going around
Meaning: Many people are getting sick.
Example: There’s a bug going around at school. / Lots of kids caught the bug going around.
Put Differently: Many people are sick. / Everyone is catching it.
19. Off color
Meaning: Not looking or feeling well.
Example: He looked a little off color today. / She sounded off-color on the phone.
Put Differently: Didn’t look healthy. / Looked sick.
20. Hit hard by (something)
Meaning: Got very sick quickly.
Example: I was hit hard by the stomach virus. / The cold hit him hard.
Put Differently: Got sick fast. / It made me feel awful.
21. Catch one’s death
Meaning: Get very sick from cold or rain.
Example: Put on a coat or you’ll catch your death. / She caught her death playing outside wet.
Put Differently: You’ll get very sick. Don’t stay cold too long.
22. Bouncing back
Meaning: Getting better after being sick.
Example: I’m finally bouncing back. / He’s bouncing back after the flu.
Put Differently: Feeling better again. / Recovering.
23. Down for the count
Meaning: Too sick to do anything.
Example: I was down for the count all weekend. / Dad’s down for the count with a fever.
Put Differently: Too sick to move. / Staying in bed.
24. Have a fever
Meaning: Body temperature is high.
Example: I have a fever and can’t go to school. / She has a fever and chills.
Put Differently: Feeling hot and sick. / Body is too warm.
25. Breaking out in a cold sweat
Meaning: Sweating when feeling very sick.
Example: I broke out in a cold sweat before throwing up. / He was breaking out in a cold sweat at the nurse’s office.
Put Differently: Sweating from being sick. / Feeling very bad.
26. Lost my appetite
Meaning: Don’t feel like eating.
Example: I lost my appetite when I got sick. / She hasn’t eaten all day and lost her appetite.
Put Differently: Don’t want to eat. / Food doesn’t sound good.
27. Feeling weak in the knees
Meaning: Very tired or shaky.
Example: I was feeling weak in the knees after the fever. He felt weak in the knees all day.
Put Differently: Legs feel tired. / Body is not strong.
28. Sick to my stomach
Meaning: Feeling like you’re going to throw up.
Example: I was sick to my stomach after lunch. / She felt sick to her stomach on the bus.
Put Differently: Belly feels bad. / Might throw up.
29. Look sickly
Meaning: Looking unhealthy.
Example: He looks sickly today. / She’s looking sickly lately.
Put Differently: Looks pale and weak. / Face doesn’t look good.
30. On my last legs
Meaning: Very weak or near fainting.
Example: I felt like I was on my last legs after being sick. / She was on her last legs by the end of the day.
Put Differently: Almost too weak to walk. / Very tired.
31. Took a turn for the worse
Meaning: Got sicker.
Example: He took a turn for the worse last night. / She felt fine but then took a turn for the worse.
Put Differently: Got more sick. / Feeling worse now.
32. Fever broke
Meaning: The fever ended.
Example: My fever finally broke this morning. / Her fever broke last night, and she feels better.
Put Differently: No more fever. / Body cooling down.
33. Nauseous
Meaning: Feeling like you might throw up.
Example: I felt nauseous after the ride. / She looked nauseous at lunch.
Put Differently: Stomach feels bad. / Might throw up.
34.Feeling dizzy
Meaning: Feeling like things are spinning.
Example: I felt dizzy in the hallway. / She was dizzy and sat down.
Put Differently: Hard to stand. / Head spinning.
35. Light headed
Meaning: Feeling weak and like fainting.
Example: I felt light headed after gym class. / He was light headed from the medicine.
Put Differently: Felt floaty. / Couldn’t stand well.
36. Green around the gills
Meaning: Looking like you might throw up.
Example: He looked green around the gills before he ran to the bathroom. / She was green around the gills on the bus ride.
Put Differently: Looked sick. / Looked like throwing up.
37. Took medicine
Meaning: Used medicine to feel better.
Example: I took medicine for my cold. / He felt better after taking medicine.
Put Differently: Used something to heal. / Got help from pills or syrup.
38. Fighting off a cold
Meaning: Trying to get better from a cold.
Example: I’m still fighting off a cold. / He’s been fighting off a cold all week.
Put Differently: Not fully sick but close. / Trying not to get worse.
39. Got the chills
Meaning: Shivering from being sick.
Example: I’ve got the chills and can’t stop shaking. / She got the chills before the fever started.
Put Differently: Cold and shaky. / Fever may be starting.
40. In recovery
Meaning: Getting better after sickness.
Example: I’m in recovery from the flu. / He’s in recovery and will return soon.
Put Differently: Still healing. / Feeling better each day.
“Rewrite the Sentence” Activity : Idioms for Being Sick
Instructions: Read each sentence below. It tells about someone not feeling well. Rewrite each sentence using one of the idioms you’ve learned. Try to make it sound natural and real.
Sentences to Rewrite
- Sarah didn’t feel like herself and stayed quiet during class.
- I started sneezing and felt like I was getting sick.
- Marcus was very sick and didn’t get out of bed all day.
- Olivia looked pale and sat out during recess.
- I felt sick after eating too many sweets at the party.
- Dad stayed home from work because he felt tired and weak.
- I have a bad headache and can’t focus on my homework.
- Ethan stayed in bed for two days with a cold.
- mma is getting better and may come back to school tomorrow.
- James felt sick but still tried to finish his Valentine’s Day card.
Answer Key
- Sarah was not feeling herself and stayed quiet during class.
- I think I’m coming down with something.
- Marcus was sick as a dog and didn’t get out of bed all day.
- Olivia looked as pale as a ghost and sat out during recess.
- I felt sick to my stomach after eating too many sweets at the party.
- Dad stayed home from work because he felt run down.
- I have a splitting headache and can’t focus on my homework.
- Ethan was laid up for two days with a cold.
- Emma is on the mend and may come back to school tomorrow.
- James was feeling under the weather but still tried to finish his Valentine’s Day card.
Conclusion
Learning idioms for being sick can help you understand what people mean when they speak in everyday situations. These phrases make talking about health easier and sometimes less serious.
Now you know how to say you feel tired, weak, or unwell in different ways. Try using a few of these idioms when you talk with friends or write about how you feel. It will help you sound more natural and confident.
