Sometimes we feel sick and need to stay home. People use special sayings, called idioms, to talk about feeling sick. These sayings make talking about being sick more interesting. They help people understand each other in a simple way.
In this article, we will learn about some fun idioms people use when they are sick. These idioms sound different from regular words. They have special meanings. You will see how people use these sayings when they are not feeling well. Learning them can help you talk and listen better.
Idioms for Being Sick
1. Under the Weather
Meaning: Feeling a little sick.
To Provide an Example: I stayed home from school because I felt under the weather. / Dad said he was under the weather after working outside in the rain.
Alternative Meaning: Mom looked under the weather when she caught a cold at the park. / My brother felt under the weather after eating too much ice cream.
2. Feeling Green
Meaning: Feeling like you might throw up.
To Provide an Example: After the roller coaster ride, I was feeling green. / Sam felt green after eating too much candy on Halloween.
Alternative Meaning: Anna looked green after spinning around too many times. / Joey felt green after the long car ride to Grandma’s house.
3. Sick as a Dog
Meaning: Very, very sick.
To Provide an Example: I was sick as a dog and had to stay in bed all day. / After the flu shot, my sister felt sick as a dog for a little while.
Alternative Meaning: My cousin was sick as a dog with the stomach bug. / Our neighbor said he felt sick as a dog after eating bad food.
4. Catch a Bug
Meaning: Get a small sickness like a cold.
To Provide an Example: I caught a bug and had to miss my soccer game. / My teacher caught a bug and stayed home from school.
Alternative Meaning: Emily caught a bug after playing outside in the rain. / Grandpa caught a bug after visiting the grocery store.
5. Laid Up
Meaning: Stuck in bed because you are sick.
To Provide an Example: I was laid up with the flu last week. / Dad was laid up for days after hurting his back.
Alternative Meaning: Uncle Ben was laid up with a bad cold. / My dog was laid up after hurting his paw.
6. Down for the Count
Meaning: Too sick or tired to do anything.
To Provide an Example: I was down for the count after running a long race. / After getting a cold, Jake was down for the count all weekend.
Alternative Meaning: My sister was down for the count after staying up too late. / Mom was down for the count with a fever.
7. Run Down
Meaning: Feeling very tired and weak.
To Provide an Example: I felt run down after staying up late doing homework. / After helping with the move, Dad looked run down.
Alternative Meaning: My aunt was run down from working two jobs. / The dog was run down after running around the park.
8. Out of Sorts
Meaning: Not feeling like your usual self.
To Provide an Example: I was out of sorts after missing breakfast. / My friend was out of sorts when he caught a cold.
Alternative Meaning: Our teacher was out of sorts after her long trip. / My cousin felt out of sorts before the big test.
9. Pale as a Ghost
Meaning: Looking very sick and white in the face.
To Provide an Example: After riding the spinning ride, Ellie was pale as a ghost. / When I had the flu, I looked pale as a ghost.
Alternative Meaning: Tommy looked pale as a ghost after falling off his bike. / Grandma was pale as a ghost when she wasn’t feeling good.
10. Break Out in a Cold Sweat
Meaning: Get very sweaty because you are scared or sick.
To Provide an Example: I broke out in a cold sweat when I had a high fever. / Sam broke out in a cold sweat before his spelling test.
Alternative Meaning: Mom broke out in a cold sweat when she saw the car accident. / I broke out in a cold sweat during the thunderstorm.
11. In Bad Shape
Meaning: Feeling very sick or weak.
To Provide an Example: I was in bad shape after catching the flu. / After his surgery, Grandpa was in bad shape for a while.
Alternative Meaning: My sister was in bad shape after running a long race. / Dad was in bad shape after getting a bad cold.
12. On One’s Last Legs
Meaning: Almost too sick or tired to move.
To Provide an Example: I was on my last legs after playing soccer all day. / Mom said she was on her last legs after cleaning the house.
Alternative Meaning: My dog was on his last legs after chasing balls all afternoon. / Uncle Joe was on his last legs after a long day at work.
13. Fever Pitch
Meaning: A high point of excitement or sickness.
To Provide an Example: My excitement reached fever pitch before the big field trip. / His fever reached a fever pitch last night.
Alternative Meaning: The crowd was at fever pitch during the big football game. / Mom’s worry reached fever pitch when the storm hit.
14. Broken Down
Meaning: Feeling very sick or tired.
To Provide an Example: I felt broken down after catching a cold. / After cleaning all day, Mom looked broken down.
Alternative Meaning: Dad looked broken down after driving for hours. / My coach was broken down after two games in one day.
15. Black Out
Meaning: To faint or lose vision for a moment.
To Provide an Example: I almost blacked out after spinning too fast. / Mom said she blacked out when she was very sick once.
Alternative Meaning: My friend blacked out after standing up too quickly. / Dad blacked out after getting dehydrated.
16. Drop Like Flies
Meaning: Many people getting sick at once.
To Provide an Example: Kids dropped like flies during the flu season. / My class dropped like flies when the cold spread.
Alternative Meaning: Workers dropped like flies after the bug went around. / Our soccer team dropped like flies after the stomach bug.
17. Come Down With
Meaning: To get sick.
To Provide an Example: I came down with the flu last week. / Dad came down with a cold after the camping trip.
Alternative Meaning: My cousin came down with a bad fever. / My teacher came down with laryngitis.
18. Head Cold
Meaning: A mild sickness that affects the nose and head.
To Provide an Example: I stayed home from school because of a head cold. / My brother got a head cold after swimming in the rain.
Alternative Meaning: Mom had a head cold and couldn’t go to work. / Uncle John caught a head cold at the football game.
19. Feel Like Death Warmed Over
Meaning: Feel extremely sick.
To Provide an Example: I felt like death warmed over when I had the flu. / Mom felt like death warmed over after staying up with the baby.
Alternative Meaning: Dad felt like death warmed over after catching the bug. / My sister felt like death warmed over after staying out in the cold.
20. In the Grips Of
Meaning: Being strongly affected by illness.
To Provide an Example: I was in the grips of a bad fever all night. / Mom was in the grips of a bad cold last week.
Alternative Meaning: Dad was in the grips of a stomach bug. / My friend was in the grips of a high fever.
21. Knocked Out
Meaning: Feeling very tired or sick.
To Provide an Example: I was knocked out after playing outside all day. / Dad got knocked out by a bad cold.
Alternative Meaning: My brother got knocked out after staying up late. / Mom was knocked out after cleaning the whole house.
22. Cough One’s Head Off
Meaning: Cough a lot.
To Provide an Example: I coughed my head off during the night. / Sam coughed his head off after breathing dusty air.
Alternative Meaning: My friend coughed his head off after eating spicy food. / Grandpa coughed his head off after gardening.
23. Bedridden
Meaning: Having to stay in bed because of sickness.
To Provide an Example: I was bedridden with the flu for three days. / Grandpa was bedridden after his surgery.
Alternative Meaning: My neighbor was bedridden after breaking her leg. / Mom was bedridden with a bad cold.
24. Walking Wounded
Meaning: Someone who is sick but still moving around.
To Provide an Example: I was walking wounded when I went to school with a cold. / Mom was walking wounded when she cooked dinner while sick.
Alternative Meaning: Dad was walking wounded when he went to work with the flu. / My sister was walking wounded at her dance recital.
25. Blow Hot and Cold
Meaning: Feel better and worse again and again.
To Provide an Example: I was blowing hot and cold while recovering from the flu. / Mom blew hot and cold when she caught the bug.
Alternative Meaning: Dad blew hot and cold all week from a cold. / My friend blew hot and cold before the spelling bee.
26. Come Apart at the Seams
Meaning: To feel like you are breaking down from sickness.
To Provide an Example: I felt like I came apart at the seams when I had a fever. / Mom came apart at the seams after staying up with my baby brother.
Alternative Meaning: Dad came apart at the seams when he caught the flu. / My sister came apart at the seams during her cold.
27. Out Cold
Meaning: Unconscious or sleeping very deeply.
To Provide an Example: After my fever, I was out cold for hours. / Dad was out cold after working a double shift.
Alternative Meaning: My dog was out cold after running at the park. / Mom was out cold after helping at the school fair.
28. Burned Out
Meaning: Very tired or sick from doing too much.
To Provide an Example: I felt burned out after studying all night. / Mom looked burned out after helping with homework.
Alternative Meaning: Dad was burned out from working two jobs. / My brother was burned out after basketball practice.
29. Feel Off
Meaning: Not feeling well.
To Provide an Example: I felt off when I woke up this morning. / My friend felt off before the spelling bee.
Alternative Meaning: Mom felt off after eating a funny-tasting sandwich. / Grandpa felt off after mowing the lawn.
30. All Broken Up
Meaning: Feeling very bad or sick.
To Provide an Example: I was all broken up with a bad cold. / Dad was all broken up after working in the rain.
Alternative Meaning: Mom was all broken up after staying up all night. / My dog was all broken up after hurting his paw.
31. Dragging One’s Feet
Meaning: Moving slowly because you feel bad.
To Provide an Example: I was dragging my feet getting ready for school when I had a cold. / Mom was dragging her feet after a long night.
Alternative Meaning: Dad was dragging his feet after a tough day at work. / My friend was dragging his feet with a sore throat.
32. Wiped Out
Meaning: Extremely tired or sick.
To Provide an Example: I was wiped out after running at recess. / Mom was wiped out after cleaning the house.
Alternative Meaning: Dad was wiped out after mowing the yard. / My sister was wiped out after a long swim practice.
33. Queasy
Meaning: Feeling like you are going to be sick.
To Provide an Example: I felt queasy after riding the roller coaster. / Mom felt queasy when she got car sick.
Alternative Meaning: Dad felt queasy after eating spicy food. / My friend felt queasy after spinning in circles.
34. Shaky
Meaning: Feeling weak and unsteady.
To Provide an Example: I was shaky after running around too much. / Mom was shaky after being sick for days.
Alternative Meaning: Dad was shaky after mowing the yard on a hot day. / My brother was shaky after staying up too late.
35. Achy All Over
Meaning: Feeling sore everywhere.
To Provide an Example: I was achy all over when I had the flu. / Mom was achy all over after helping with moving boxes.
Alternative Meaning: Dad was achy all over after shoveling snow. / My sister was achy all over after gymnastics practice.
36. Out of Commission
Meaning: Unable to do anything because of sickness.
To Provide an Example: I was out of commission for a week with the flu. / Dad was out of commission after hurting his back.
Alternative Meaning: Mom was out of commission with a fever. / My brother was out of commission after the flu shot.
37. Feel Rotten
Meaning: Feeling very bad.
To Provide an Example: I felt rotten when I got a cold. / Mom felt rotten after not sleeping well.
Alternative Meaning: Dad felt rotten after eating bad food. / My friend felt rotten after the flu.
38. Look Like Death
Meaning: Looking very sick.
To Provide an Example: I looked like death after staying up all night. / Mom looked like death after catching a cold.
Alternative Meaning: Dad looked like death after being sick. / My sister looked like death after her stomach bug.
39. Rough Around the Edges
Meaning: Not looking healthy or feeling great.
To Provide an Example: I was rough around the edges when I had a cough. / Mom was rough around the edges after the flu.
Alternative Meaning: Dad was rough around the edges after a bad cold. / My friend was rough around the edges after a long bus ride.
40. Dog-Tired
Meaning: Very tired.
To Provide an Example: I was dog-tired after playing soccer. / Dad was dog-tired after mowing the lawn.
Alternative Meaning: Mom was dog-tired after baking cookies all day. / My brother was dog-tired after baseball practice.
41. Sicker Than a Dog
Meaning: Extremely sick.
To Provide an Example: I was sicker than a dog with the flu. / Mom was sicker than a dog after the trip.
Alternative Meaning: Dad was sicker than a dog after catching a bug. / My friend was sicker than a dog after eating bad shrimp.
42. White as a Sheet
Meaning: Very pale from being sick.
To Provide an Example: I was white as a sheet after getting dizzy. / Mom was white as a sheet when she had a fever.
Alternative Meaning: Dad was white as a sheet after getting a stomach bug. / My brother was white as a sheet after spinning too much.
43. A Heavy Cold
Meaning: A very strong cold.
To Provide an Example: I stayed home because I had a heavy cold. / Mom had a heavy cold and rested all day.
Alternative Meaning: Dad had a heavy cold after camping. / My friend had a heavy cold during winter break.
44. Laid Low
Meaning: Forced to rest because of illness.
To Provide an Example: I was laid low by the flu. / Mom was laid low after catching a bad cold.
Alternative Meaning: Dad was laid low by a stomach bug. / My friend was laid low with a sore throat.
45. Burning Up
Meaning: Having a very high fever.
To Provide an Example: I was burning up last night with a fever. / Mom said I was burning up and gave me medicine.
Alternative Meaning: Dad was burning up when he had the flu. / My brother was burning up during his cold.
46. In a Bad Way
Meaning: Feeling very sick or weak.
To Provide an Example: I was in a bad way after catching the flu. / Mom was in a bad way after a long night awake.
Alternative Meaning: Dad was in a bad way after working outside in the cold. / My sister was in a bad way after staying up too late.
47. Peaked
Meaning: Looking tired and sick.
To Provide an Example: I looked peaked after missing breakfast. / Mom looked peaked after a long day at work.
Alternative Meaning: Dad looked peaked after his fever. / My brother looked peaked after being sick all night.
48. Curl Up in Bed
Meaning: To rest because you feel sick.
To Provide an Example: I curled up in bed when I had the flu. / Mom curled up in bed after a long day.
Alternative Meaning: Dad curled up in bed with a sore throat. / My sister curled up in bed after getting a bad cold.
49. Shake Like a Leaf
Meaning: Shivering because of sickness or fear.
To Provide an Example: I shook like a leaf when I had a fever. / Mom shook like a leaf during the thunderstorm.
Alternative Meaning: Dad shook like a leaf after walking outside in winter. / My brother shook like a leaf before his dentist visit.
50. Feverish
Meaning: Feeling hot because of a fever.
To Provide an Example: I was feverish all night. / Mom said I felt feverish and gave me medicine.
Alternative Meaning: Dad was feverish after a long day in the sun. / My friend was feverish during his cold.
Trials for Success: Idioms for Being Sick
- After raking all the leaves, my dad looked __________.
- I had to miss the school play because I was feeling __________.
- After the bumpy car ride, my little brother felt __________.
- My friend caught a bug at school and was __________ all week.
- Mom stayed home from work because she was __________ with a heavy cold.
- After eating too much pizza at the party, I felt __________.
- When Grandpa got the flu, he said he felt __________.
- After mowing the lawn in the heat, Dad looked __________.
- I was __________ when I caught the stomach bug from my classmates.
- Mom curled up in bed because she was feeling __________.
- After spinning around at the fair, I looked __________.
- Dad was __________ after working two long shifts in a row.
- When the flu spread at school, kids were __________.
- After a long soccer game, my sister was __________ and ready for bed.
- I had a fever and broke out in a __________ sweat.
Answers
- Rough around the edges
- Under the weather
- Green
- Laid up
- In bad shape
- Queasy
- Sick as a dog
- Pale as a ghost
- Burning up
- Achy all over
- White as a sheet
- Burned out
- Dropping like flies
- Dog-tired
- Cold
Conclusion
Learning idioms about being sick can make talking more fun and easier to understand. These special sayings help us share how we feel without using a lot of words.
When you hear someone say they are “under the weather” or “burning up,” you will know just what they mean. By using these idioms, you can sound more natural and clear when you speak. It also helps you listen better to others.
Now that you know these sayings, you can use them when you talk to your family, friends, and teachers. It is a simple way to make your words stronger and more interesting.
