Idioms are a creative way of expressing our thoughts and emotions. They don’t always make literal sense but help make conversations colorful and interesting. Understanding idioms can make it easier to connect with others, whether you’re telling a funny story or expressing your feelings. They’re commonly used in everyday life and make the language more fun and meaningful.
When it comes to being sick, there are many idioms that describe how we feel, from the common “under the weather” to the more playful “a little off-color.” These expressions can help us talk about illness in a way that’s lighter and often more relatable. Let’s dive into some idioms related to sickness, their meanings, and how to use them in sentences.
Idioms for Sick
1. Under the weather
Meaning: Feeling ill or unwell.
In a Sentence: I couldn’t go to work today because I was feeling under the weather.
Other Ways to Say: Feeling sick, Not feeling well
2. A little off-color
Meaning: Looking or feeling slightly unwell.
In a Sentence: She looked a little off-color after staying up all night studying for the exam.
Other Ways to Say: Feeling unwell, Not at your best
3. Run down
Meaning: Feeling weak or exhausted, often from overwork or stress.
In a Sentence: After a week of nonstop work, I feel completely run down.
Other Ways to Say: Exhausted, Worn out
4. Down with something
Meaning: Sick with a particular illness.
In a Sentence: I’m down with the flu, so I’ll be staying home for the week.
Other Ways to Say: Sick with, Battling
5. Under the knife
Meaning: Referring to surgery or an operation.
In a Sentence: He’s under the knife today for a knee replacement surgery.
Other Ways to Say: Having surgery, Going under the surgeon’s care
6. Feeling blue
Meaning: Feeling sad, down, or depressed.
In a Sentence: I’ve been feeling blue lately, probably because of the cold weather.
Other Ways to Say: Feeling down, Low spirits
7. Feeling off
Meaning: Not feeling your usual self, often indicating minor illness.
In a Sentence: I feel a little off today, like I’m coming down with something.
Other Ways to Say: Not feeling right, Out of sorts
8. Take a turn for the worse
Meaning: To become more seriously ill or worse than before.
In a Sentence: He was feeling fine yesterday, but his condition took a turn for the worse overnight.
Other Ways to Say: Deteriorate, Get worse
9. In bad shape
Meaning: In poor health or condition.
In a Sentence: After the marathon, I was in bad shape and could barely walk.
Other Ways to Say: Unwell, In poor health
10. Like a dog with a bone
Meaning: Persistently focusing on something, often a minor issue, which can sometimes lead to exhaustion.
In a Sentence: He was like a dog with a bone, pushing through his cold to finish his project.
Other Ways to Say: Determined, Relentless
11. Out of sorts
Meaning: Feeling a little unwell or out of normal health.
In a Sentence: I’ve been feeling a bit out of sorts ever since I caught that cold.
Other Ways to Say: Feeling strange, Off balance
12. Feeling fragile
Meaning: Feeling weak or delicate, often after illness.
In a Sentence: After that stomach bug, I’m still feeling fragile.
Other Ways to Say: Weak, Fragile health
13. Hit the sack
Meaning: To go to bed, often because you’re tired or unwell.
In a Sentence: After a long day at work, I’m going to hit the sack early tonight.
Other Ways to Say: Go to sleep, Hit the pillow
14. Ailing
Meaning: Experiencing health problems or sickness.
In a Sentence: My grandmother has been ailing for a few weeks, and we’re all worried.
Other Ways to Say: Sick, Unwell
15. Laying low
Meaning: Staying in a place to rest and recover, often to avoid further illness.
In a Sentence: I’ll be laying low this weekend to get over this cold.
Other Ways to Say: Resting, Taking it easy
16. Take it easy
Meaning: To relax and not overexert oneself, especially when feeling sick.
In a Sentence: You’ve been working too hard; it’s time to take it easy for a while.
Other Ways to Say: Relax, Rest up
17. Out of commission
Meaning: Unable to function due to illness or damage.
In a Sentence: I’ll be out of commission for a few days while I recover from the flu.
Other Ways to Say: Not operational, Incapacitated
18. Knocked out
Meaning: To feel completely exhausted or ill, often by a specific illness.
In a Sentence: The flu knocked me out for the entire weekend.
Other Ways to Say: Exhausted, Completely drained
19. Feeling like death warmed up
Meaning: Feeling extremely ill or exhausted, as though one could barely function.
In a Sentence: After the fever hit me, I felt like death warmed up.
Other Ways to Say: Feeling terrible, On the verge of collapse
20. Sick as a dog
Meaning: Extremely sick or unwell.
In a Sentence: I was sick as a dog with the flu last week.
Other Ways to Say: Very ill, Extremely unwell
21. A cold coming on
Meaning: Beginning to feel the symptoms of a cold.
In a Sentence: I think I’m getting a cold coming on; I can feel it in my throat.
Other Ways to Say: Starting to feel sick, Developing a cold
22. Under the weather
Meaning: Feeling ill, typically with a minor illness like a cold or the flu.
In a Sentence: He’s been under the weather for a few days but is starting to feel better.
Other Ways to Say: Feeling ill, Not up to par
23. Bedridden
Meaning: Being confined to bed due to illness.
In a Sentence: She was bedridden for a week after the surgery, but now she’s up and moving again.
Other Ways to Say: Stuck in bed, Lying down all day
24. Feeling off
Meaning: Feeling unwell or slightly out of sorts.
In a Sentence: I’m feeling a bit off today—maybe I need more sleep.
Other Ways to Say: Feeling unwell, Not feeling myself
25. Full of cold
Meaning: To have a cold or respiratory illness.
In a Sentence: I’m full of cold, my nose is stuffy, and I can’t stop sneezing.
Other Ways to Say: Sniffly, Congested
26. Put on ice
Meaning: To delay or postpone something, often due to illness.
In a Sentence: They’ve put the meeting on ice since so many people are sick.
Other Ways to Say: Postpone, Delay
27. Coming down with
Meaning: To start showing symptoms of an illness.
In a Sentence: I’m coming down with something; my throat is sore, and I’m getting chills.
Other Ways to Say: Catching, Developing
28. Croaky
Meaning: Having a rough, raspy voice due to illness.
In a Sentence: His voice was croaky after yelling all day at the game.
Other Ways to Say: Hoarse, Raspy
29. Feeling the chills
Meaning: Experiencing a cold sensation, usually because of fever or illness.
In a Sentence: I felt the chills when I woke up with a high fever this morning.
Other Ways to Say: Shivering, Cold sweats
30. Wiped out
Meaning: Completely exhausted or drained of energy, often due to illness.
In a Sentence: After a week of being sick, I feel completely wiped out.
Other Ways to Say: Exhausted, Zapped
31. Green around the gills
Meaning: Looking pale or sick, often due to nausea.
In a Sentence: She looked green around the gills after the roller coaster ride.
Other Ways to Say: Pale, Nauseous
32. Sick and tired
Meaning: Fed up or extremely tired of something, often referring to illness or stress.
In a Sentence: I’m sick and tired of feeling under the weather every week.
Other Ways to Say: Fed up, Had enough
33. Off-color
Meaning: Slightly ill or not looking healthy.
In a Sentence: He looked a little off-color at the meeting this morning, but I think he’s fine now.
Other Ways to Say: Ill-looking, Pale
34. Down for the count
Meaning: Unable to continue due to illness or exhaustion.
In a Sentence: After the flu hit, I was down for the count for two days.
Other Ways to Say: Knocked out, Out of commission
35. Like a sick dog
Meaning: Feeling very ill, almost to the point of collapse.
In a Sentence: I felt like a sick dog after the long flight and the time change.
Other Ways to Say: Terribly ill, Unwell to the extreme
36. In a bad way
Meaning: In poor health or suffering from an illness.
In a Sentence: She’s been in a bad way ever since she caught that cold.
Other Ways to Say: Not doing well, In trouble
37. Feeling a bit off
Meaning: Not feeling well, often indicating mild illness.
In a Sentence: I’m feeling a bit off today; I think I might be coming down with something.
Other Ways to Say: Under the weather, Not at my best
38. Catch a cold
Meaning: To become ill, especially with a cold.
In a Sentence: I think I caught a cold after being out in the rain all day.
Other Ways to Say: Get sick, Come down with a cold
39. Not feeling yourself
Meaning: Feeling different or unwell, as if your usual self is “missing.”
In a Sentence: You don’t seem like yourself today; are you feeling okay?
Other Ways to Say: Off, Not quite right
40. In the wars
Meaning: Injured or sick, often in a dramatic or humorous way.
In a Sentence: He’s been in the wars ever since he broke his leg during the soccer game.
Other Ways to Say: Hurt, Out of sorts
41. Down in the dumps
Meaning: Feeling sad or unwell, often emotionally and physically.
In a Sentence: Ever since she caught the flu, she’s been down in the dumps.
Other Ways to Say: Low, Depressed
42. Under the doctor’s orders
Meaning: Following a doctor’s advice to rest or recover.
In a Sentence: I’m under the doctor’s orders to rest for the next few days.
Other Ways to Say: On medical advice, Following doctor’s orders
43. In the sick bay
Meaning: A place where people go to rest when they are sick, often in schools or institutions.
In a Sentence: She was in the sick bay all afternoon after catching a stomach bug.
Other Ways to Say: In the infirmary, Resting area
44. Throwing up
Meaning: Vomiting due to illness.
In a Sentence: He’s throwing up all morning, so I think we need to see a doctor.
Other Ways to Say: Vomiting, Puking
45. Cough it out
Meaning: To recover from a cough or throat illness by coughing it up.
In a Sentence: The doctor told me to just cough it out and stay hydrated.
Other Ways to Say: Clear my throat, Get it out of my system
46. A touch of something
Meaning: A mild case of an illness.
In a Sentence: I think I have a touch of the flu; it’s nothing serious though.
Other Ways to Say: A slight cold, A mild fever
47. Have the sniffles
Meaning: To have a mild cold, usually with a runny nose.
In a Sentence: I’ve got the sniffles today, but I should be fine by tomorrow.
Other Ways to Say: Cold symptoms, A runny nose
Exercise to Practice
Fill in the blanks with the correct idioms:
- After staying up all night, I was so tired that I felt completely _______.
- I’m starting to feel a little _______—I think I’m coming down with something.
- He was feeling _______ after the long hike, but he rested and felt better.
- My grandmother has been _______ for a few days, but she’s slowly recovering.
- Stop acting like _______—you’re not actually sick, just a little tired.
- I can’t join you for dinner tonight. I’m feeling a bit _______ and need to rest.
- He’s been in the sick bay all morning after getting a bad stomach bug.
- She caught a cold and started to _______ all over the place.
- I’ve got a _______ of the flu, but I’ll still be able to go to work tomorrow.
- Don’t cry over spilled _______—just get some rest, and you’ll feel better tomorrow.
- I’m just a little _______ today; I think I’ve caught a mild cold.
- I’m feeling a bit _______—I’ll stay in bed and rest.
- After the long meeting, I was feeling completely _______ and had to take a nap.
- I’m starting to feel _______ from the cold I caught last week, but it’s nothing serious.
- He got a little _______ after being in the sun all day without any rest.
Answers:
wiped out, off, run down, ailing, like a dog with a bone, under the weather, out of commission, throw up, touch of something, over it, fragile, full of cold, green around the gills
Conclusion
Idioms help us communicate our experiences in creative ways, making them more fun and relatable. When you’re feeling sick, these idioms offer a light-hearted way to talk about illness and recovery. They can help us express how we feel without always getting into the specifics of our conditions. So next time you’re not feeling well, use these idioms to spice up your conversations, and make sickness sound a little less gloomy!
