When we feel sick, we sometimes use fun phrases to help explain how we feel. These phrases use comparisons called similes. A simile uses words like “like” or “as” to show how something is similar to something else. For example, saying “I feel like a wet towel” means you feel very tired and weak.
Using similes about being sick can help us share our feelings in a way that others understand better. It can also make talking about being sick a little easier. In this article, we will learn some simple similes that describe how people feel when they are sick. These can help us describe sickness clearly and simply.
Similes for Being Sick
1. Like a wet towel
Meaning: Feeling very tired and weak
To Provide an Example: I felt like a wet towel after playing outside. / Mom looked like a wet towel when she had a cold.
Alternative Meaning: Feeling limp or without energy / Very worn out
2. Like a broken clock
Meaning: Feeling slow and not working well
To Provide an Example: I was like a broken clock during my flu. / Dad moved like a broken clock when he was sick.
Alternative Meaning: Not able to do things right / Moving very slowly
3. Like a deflated balloon
Meaning: Feeling empty and weak
To Provide an Example: After my fever, I felt like a deflated balloon. / She was like a deflated balloon all day.
Alternative Meaning: Feeling sad or down / No energy left
4. Like a sleepy bear
Meaning: Feeling very sleepy
To Provide an Example: I felt like a sleepy bear and wanted to nap. / He was like a sleepy bear after taking medicine.
Alternative Meaning: Wanting to sleep a lot / Very tired
5. Like a wilting flower
Meaning: Feeling weak and droopy
To Provide an Example: She looked like a wilting flower when she had a cold. / I felt like a wilting flower all morning.
Alternative Meaning: Losing strength / Not feeling well
6. Like a slow turtle
Meaning: Moving slowly because you feel bad
To Provide an Example: I walked like a slow turtle when I had a sore throat. / Mom moved like a slow turtle when sick.
Alternative Meaning: Taking time to do things / Not feeling fast
7. Like a leaking faucet
Meaning: Having a runny nose or cough that doesn’t stop
To Provide an Example: My nose ran like a leaking faucet. / She coughed like a leaking faucet all day.
Alternative Meaning: Something that keeps dripping or going
8. Like a broken robot
Meaning: Feeling stiff and not moving well
To Provide an Example: I felt like a broken robot after my flu shot. / Dad walked like a broken robot when he was sick.
Alternative Meaning: Moving slowly and stiffly / Not feeling normal
9. Like a dark cloud
Meaning: Feeling gloomy or sad because of sickness
To Provide an Example: I felt like a dark cloud when I missed school. / She was like a dark cloud because she felt bad.
Alternative Meaning: Feeling sad or down / Not happy
10. Like a tired kitten
Meaning: Feeling very tired and needing rest
To Provide an Example: I curled up like a tired kitten after my medicine. / He lay down like a tired kitten all afternoon.
Alternative Meaning: Wanting to rest / Feeling sleepy
11. Like a shaky leaf
Meaning: Feeling weak and shaky
To Provide an Example: My hands were like shaky leaves when I had a fever. / She was like a shaky leaf when she stood up.
Alternative Meaning: Moving because of weakness / Not steady
12. Like a quiet mouse
Meaning: Feeling too weak to talk or play
To Provide an Example: I was like a quiet mouse all day because I felt sick. / He stayed like a quiet mouse after his cold.
Alternative Meaning: Being very quiet / Not active
13. Like a cold ice cube
Meaning: Feeling very cold or chilly
To Provide an Example: I felt like a cold ice cube during the fever. / Mom was like a cold ice cube last night.
Alternative Meaning: Feeling cold all over / Shivering
14. Like a foggy morning
Meaning: Feeling confused or sleepy
To Provide an Example: My mind was like a foggy morning when I was sick. / She felt like a foggy morning after waking up.
Alternative Meaning: Not clear thinking / Feeling slow
15. Like a droopy puppy
Meaning: Feeling sad and tired
To Provide an Example: I was like a droopy puppy because I didn’t feel good. / He looked like a droopy puppy all day.
Alternative Meaning: Feeling down / Low energy
16. Like a half-charged phone
Meaning: Feeling partly tired and partly okay
To Provide an Example: I was like a half-charged phone after school. / She felt like a half-charged phone after medicine.
Alternative Meaning: Not full of energy / Getting better slowly
17. Like a slow snail
Meaning: Moving very slowly because of sickness
To Provide an Example: I walked like a slow snail when I had the flu. / Dad moved like a slow snail all day.
Alternative Meaning: Very slow movement / Not feeling fast
18. Like a leaking faucet
Meaning: Nose or eyes that keep dripping
To Provide an Example: My nose ran like a leaking faucet. / She wiped her eyes like a leaking faucet.
Alternative Meaning: Something that keeps dripping / Not stopping
19. Like a cracked doll
Meaning: Feeling broken or hurt inside
To Provide an Example: I felt like a cracked doll when I had a cold. / She was like a cracked doll all day.
Alternative Meaning: Feeling not quite right / Hurt or weak
20. Like a sleepy turtle
Meaning: Feeling slow and very tired
To Provide an Example: I was like a sleepy turtle and wanted to sleep. / He moved like a sleepy turtle after his medicine.
Alternative Meaning: Very tired / Moving slowly
21. Like a soft pillow
Meaning: Feeling soft and weak
To Provide an Example: I felt like a soft pillow when resting. / She was like a soft pillow after the fever.
Alternative Meaning: Feeling gentle and weak / Needing rest
22. Like a foggy glass
Meaning: Seeing things blurry or feeling confused
To Provide an Example: My eyes were like a foggy glass after being sick. / She saw like a foggy glass in the morning.
Alternative Meaning: Not clear / Blurry vision
23. Like a tired engine
Meaning: Feeling slow and needing rest
To Provide an Example: My body was like a tired engine all day. / Dad felt like a tired engine after work.
Alternative Meaning: Not working well / Running out of energy
24. Like a weak kite
Meaning: Feeling like you can’t fly or play
To Provide an Example: I felt like a weak kite in the wind. / She was like a weak kite on a bad day.
Alternative Meaning: Feeling weak / Not able to move well
25. Like a broken radio
Meaning: Not feeling well and confused
To Provide an Example: My head felt like a broken radio. / He was like a broken radio after the flu.
Alternative Meaning: Not thinking clearly / Feeling mixed up
26. Like a soft blanket
Meaning: Feeling cozy but tired
To Provide an Example: I wanted to be like a soft blanket and rest. / She was like a soft blanket after the fever.
Alternative Meaning: Feeling warm / Needing rest
27. Like a tired battery
Meaning: Running low on energy
To Provide an Example: I was like a tired battery after playing. / Mom felt like a tired battery last night.
Alternative Meaning: Feeling weak / Needing to rest
28. Like a slow river
Meaning: Moving slowly and quietly
To Provide an Example: I walked like a slow river when I was sick. / He moved like a slow river all day.
Alternative Meaning: Moving gently / Not in a hurry
29. Like a lost puppy
Meaning: Feeling scared or confused
To Provide an Example: I felt like a lost puppy in the doctor’s office. / She was like a lost puppy at the hospital.
Alternative Meaning: Feeling unsure / Needing help
30. Like a tired lion
Meaning: Feeling strong but very tired
To Provide an Example: Dad was like a tired lion after working all day. / I felt like a tired lion after my medicine.
Alternative Meaning: Usually strong but tired now / Resting after hard work
31. Like a fading star
Meaning: Feeling like energy is going away
To Provide an Example: I was like a fading star in the evening. / She looked like a fading star during the fever.
Alternative Meaning: Losing strength / Getting sleepy
32. Like a soft cloud
Meaning: Feeling light and slow
To Provide an Example: I felt like a soft cloud floating in bed. / She was like a soft cloud after resting.
Alternative Meaning: Feeling gentle / Slow movement
33. Like a sleepy owl
Meaning: Feeling awake but tired
To Provide an Example: I was like a sleepy owl at night. / He acted like a sleepy owl during the day.
Alternative Meaning: Feeling tired but still awake / Slow moving
34. Like a slow snail
Meaning: Moving very slowly
To Provide an Example: I walked like a slow snail when sick. / She moved like a slow snail all day.
Alternative Meaning: Not fast / Taking time
35. Like a frozen pond
Meaning: Feeling stiff and cold
To Provide an Example: My hands were like a frozen pond. / Dad felt like a frozen pond in the morning.
Alternative Meaning: Not moving well / Feeling cold
36. Like a soft pillow
Meaning: Feeling weak and needing rest
To Provide an Example: I wanted to be like a soft pillow all day. / She rested like a soft pillow after the fever.
Alternative Meaning: Needing rest / Feeling gentle
37. Like a broken clock
Meaning: Feeling tired and slow
To Provide an Example: I was like a broken clock this morning. / He moved like a broken clock when sick.
Alternative Meaning: Moving slowly / Not working well
38. Like a leaking faucet
Meaning: Having a runny nose or cough
To Provide an Example: My nose ran like a leaking faucet. / She coughed like a leaking faucet all day.
Alternative Meaning: Something that doesn’t stop / Dripping
39. Like a sleepy kitten
Meaning: Feeling very tired
To Provide an Example: I was like a sleepy kitten after the flu. / He lay down like a sleepy kitten all afternoon.
Alternative Meaning: Wanting to sleep / Feeling tired
40. Like a wilting flower
Meaning: Feeling weak and droopy
To Provide an Example: She looked like a wilting flower when sick. / I felt like a wilting flower all day.
Alternative Meaning: Losing strength / Not feeling well
41. Like a slow turtle
Meaning: Moving slowly because of sickness
To Provide an Example: I walked like a slow turtle when sick. / Mom moved like a slow turtle all day.
Alternative Meaning: Taking time / Not fast
42. Like a shaky leaf
Meaning: Feeling weak and shaky
To Provide an Example: My hands were like shaky leaves. / She was like a shaky leaf when standing.
Alternative Meaning: Moving because of weakness / Not steady
43. Like a broken robot
Meaning: Feeling stiff and not moving well
To Provide an Example: I felt like a broken robot after the flu. / Dad walked like a broken robot.
Alternative Meaning: Moving slowly and stiffly / Not normal
44. Like a tired engine
Meaning: Feeling slow and needing rest
To Provide an Example: My body was like a tired engine. / Dad felt like a tired engine after work.
Alternative Meaning: Not working well / Running out of energy
45. Like a cracked doll
Meaning: Feeling broken or hurt
To Provide an Example: I felt like a cracked doll when sick. / She was like a cracked doll all day.
Alternative Meaning: Feeling not right / Hurt or weak
46. Like a cold ice cube
Meaning: Feeling very cold
To Provide an Example: I felt like a cold ice cube during fever. / Mom was like a cold ice cube.
Alternative Meaning: Feeling cold all over / Shivering
47. Like a sleepy bear
Meaning: Feeling very sleepy
To Provide an Example: I felt like a sleepy bear and wanted to nap. / He was like a sleepy bear after medicine.
Alternative Meaning: Wanting to sleep a lot / Very tired
48. Like a soft blanket
Meaning: Feeling cozy but tired
To Provide an Example: I wanted to be like a soft blanket. / She was like a soft blanket after fever.
Alternative Meaning: Feeling warm / Needing rest
49. Like a slow river
Meaning: Moving slowly and quietly
To Provide an Example: I walked like a slow river when sick. / He moved like a slow river.
Alternative Meaning: Moving gently / Not in a hurry
50. Like a lost puppy
Meaning: Feeling scared or confused
To Provide an Example: I felt like a lost puppy at the doctor’s. / She was like a lost puppy at hospital.
Alternative Meaning: Feeling unsure / Needing help
Trials for Success: Similes for Being Sick
- After running around, I felt like a __________ wet towel.
- Mom moved like a __________ turtle when she had a cold.
- My nose ran all day like a __________ faucet.
- I was as sleepy as a __________ bear after taking medicine.
- When I had the flu, I walked like a __________ snail.
- Dad looked like a __________ robot when he was tired.
- My hands shook like __________ leaves when I stood up.
- I felt like a __________ balloon after being sick all day.
- She was as slow as a __________ river when resting.
- I was like a __________ kitten and wanted to nap.
- He felt like a __________ flower because he was so weak.
- My head felt like a __________ radio during the fever.
- After playing, I was like a __________ battery with no energy.
- She moved like a __________ lion after working hard.
- I felt like a __________ puppy at the doctor’s office.
Answers
- wet towel
- slow
- leaking
- sleepy
- slow
- broken
- shaky
- deflated
- slow
- sleepy
- wilting
- broken
- tired
- tired
- lost
Conclusion
When we feel sick, it can be hard to explain how we feel. Similes help us describe sickness by comparing it to things we know. Saying “like a wet towel” or “like a sleepy bear” helps others understand us better.
Using these similes makes talking about being sick easier and clearer. You can try using them when you tell someone how you feel. This way, you can share your feelings in a simple and smart way. Remember, even when you feel weak, you will get better just like a flower that grows strong again.
