When you’re feeling sick, it can be hard to express how you’re feeling. Many people use idioms to describe sickness in a way that’s easier to understand. Idioms are fun phrases that have meanings beyond their literal words. Instead of saying “I feel sick,” people might say something more colorful. These phrases help communicate feelings of discomfort or illness in a way that is relatable and sometimes even humorous.
In this article, we will explore 40 idioms that people use when they’re feeling sick. You’ll learn the meanings behind these idioms and see examples of how they are used. By the end, you’ll have a better understanding of how these expressions help people talk about being unwell in everyday life. Keep reading to discover some interesting ways to describe sickness!
Idioms for Being Sick
1. Under the weather
Meaning: Feeling sick or unwell.
For Example: I felt under the weather after I ate too much candy. / She was under the weather and stayed home from school.
Alternatively: Not feeling well / Sick and tired
2. Feeling off
Meaning: Not feeling like your usual self, feeling a little sick.
For Example: I was feeling off all day after I caught a cold. / He was feeling off because he didn’t sleep well last night.
Alternatively: Not quite right / Feeling strange
3. Coughing up a storm
Meaning: Coughing a lot.
For Example: He was coughing up a storm after playing in the cold rain. / I’ve been coughing up a storm since I caught the flu.
Alternatively: Coughing a lot / Coughing non-stop
4. Feeling blue
Meaning: Feeling sad or sick.
For Example: She felt blue after catching a cold and missing her friend’s party. / I was feeling blue because I had to stay in bed all weekend.
Alternatively: Feeling sad / Not feeling well
5. A little under the weather
Meaning: Not feeling well but not seriously sick.
For Example: I’m a little under the weather today, so I’ll rest at home. / He felt a little under the weather after eating something that didn’t sit right.
Alternatively: Just not feeling great / Feeling slightly sick
6. Out of sorts
Meaning: Not feeling like your normal self, feeling sick or strange.
For Example: After the flu shot, I felt out of sorts for a few hours. / I’m feeling out of sorts because I didn’t sleep well last night.
Alternatively: Not quite right / Feeling off
7. Sick as a dog
Meaning: Very sick, usually with a bad cold or flu.
For Example: I felt sick as a dog after eating something bad for lunch. / He was sick as a dog with a stomach bug all week.
Alternatively: Very sick / Terribly ill
8. Knocked out
Meaning: Feeling very tired or sick, often after being sick for a while.
For Example: The flu knocked me out for two days. / The cold knocked him out, and he couldn’t go to school.
Alternatively: Super tired / Feeling really sick
9. Feeling crummy
Meaning: Feeling unwell or not good.
For Example: I feel crummy today; my stomach hurts. / He was feeling crummy after running a fever all night.
Alternatively: Feeling bad / Not good
10. Running a fever
Meaning: Having a high temperature, usually because of illness.
For Example: She’s running a fever and needs to rest. / My brother was running a fever and stayed home from school.
Alternatively: Feeling hot / Sick with a fever
11. Laid up
Meaning: To be stuck in bed because of sickness.
For Example: I was laid up with the flu for a whole week. / After her surgery, she was laid up for a few days.
Alternatively: Resting in bed / Stuck at home
12. In the dumps
Meaning: Feeling very sad or sick.
For Example: After catching a cold, he was in the dumps for a few days. / She felt in the dumps when she couldn’t go outside.
Alternatively: Feeling down / Feeling low
13. Under the weather
Meaning: Not feeling well, usually from a cold or flu.
For Example: She stayed home from school because she was feeling under the weather. / I was under the weather all weekend with a cold.
Alternatively: Feeling ill / Sick
14. Stomach bug
Meaning: A sickness that makes you feel sick to your stomach.
For Example: He caught a stomach bug and had to stay home. / I had a stomach bug last week and couldn’t eat anything.
Alternatively: Tummy ache / Upset stomach
15. In bed with a cold
Meaning: Stuck in bed because of a cold.
For Example: I’ve been in bed with a cold all week. / She was in bed with a cold and couldn’t go to her friend’s birthday party.
Alternatively: Stuck in bed / Sick at home
16. Feeling like a train wreck
Meaning: Feeling very sick or tired.
For Example: After the long day, I felt like a train wreck. / I felt like a train wreck when I woke up with a fever.
Alternatively: Feeling horrible / Extremely tired
17. Feeling rough
Meaning: Feeling sick or not good at all.
For Example: I’ve been feeling rough since yesterday. / After the long trip, I felt rough and needed to rest.
Alternatively: Feeling bad / Not well
18. Got a bug
Meaning: To have a small illness, like a cold or virus.
For Example: I think I got a bug from school, now I feel sick. / She’s got a bug and has to stay home today.
Alternatively: Caught a cold / Feeling unwell
19. Running low on energy
Meaning: Feeling very tired or sick.
For Example: After the hike, I was running low on energy. / I’m running low on energy today because of my cold.
Alternatively: Tired out / Low on strength
20. Feeling poorly
Meaning: Feeling sick or not well.
For Example: He’s been feeling poorly ever since he caught the flu. / I feel poorly today and am staying home.
Alternatively: Not feeling well / Feeling sick
21. Lying low
Meaning: Resting at home because you’re sick.
For Example: I’ve been lying low with a cold, trying to feel better. / He’s lying low and staying home because of a bad cough.
Alternatively: Resting / Staying in bed
22. Catching a cold
Meaning: To become sick with a cold.
For Example: I think I’m catching a cold because I’m sneezing a lot. / He caught a cold from his little sister.
Alternatively: Getting sick / Feeling a cold coming on
23. Sick as a parrot
Meaning: Feeling very sick or disappointed.
For Example: After missing the school trip, she was sick as a parrot. / He was sick as a parrot when his flu symptoms didn’t go away.
Alternatively: Very sick / Feeling disappointed
24. Down with something
Meaning: To be sick with something.
For Example: I’m down with a cold and need to rest. / He’s down with the flu and can’t go to work today.
Alternatively: Sick with / Not feeling well
25. Getting a sniffle
Meaning: To get a mild cold or a runny nose.
For Example: I think I’m getting a sniffle from being out in the cold. / He has a sniffle and needs some tissues.
Alternatively: Catching a cold / Getting a runny nose
26. On the mend
Meaning: Getting better after being sick.
For Example: I’m finally on the mend after my cold lasted a week. / He’s on the mend after his stomach bug.
Alternatively: Getting better / Improving
27. Green around the gills
Meaning: Looking or feeling sick.
For Example: She looked green around the gills after eating something bad. / He was green around the gills after the long car ride.
Alternatively: Feeling sick / Not looking well
28. Like a dog with fleas
Meaning: Feeling uncomfortable or unwell.
For Example: I feel like a dog with fleas after being sick for so long. / He was like a dog with fleas after catching a cold.
Alternatively: Very uncomfortable / Annoyed and sick
29. Feeling weak as a kitten
Meaning: Feeling very weak or sick.
For Example: After the flu, I was feeling as weak as a kitten. / He felt as weak as a kitten after staying in bed for days.
Alternatively: Very weak / Feeling tired
30. Like a fish out of water
Meaning: Feeling uncomfortable or sick in a place you’re not used to.
For Example: I felt like a fish out of water when I was sick at school. / She felt like a fish out of water when she had to rest at home.
Alternatively: Out of place / Not feeling right
31. Feeling unwell
Meaning: To be sick or not feeling good.
For Example: I’m feeling unwell and need to stay in bed today. / He’s feeling unwell and can’t come to the party.
Alternatively: Not feeling good / Feeling sick
32. Under the covers
Meaning: Resting or sleeping because you’re sick.
For Example: I stayed under the covers all day because I wasn’t feeling well. / She was under the covers, recovering from her cold.
Alternatively: Resting in bed / Hiding under the blankets
33. Off color
Meaning: Looking or feeling sick.
For Example: She looked off color and had to leave early. / He’s feeling a bit off color after that long run.
Alternatively: Not feeling well / Looking pale
34. Going around
Meaning: Referring to a sickness that is spreading.
For Example: The flu is going around school, and many students are sick. / A cold is going around, so I’m staying home.
Alternatively: Spreading illness / Being contagious
35. Feel like death warmed over
Meaning: Feeling very sick or weak.
For Example: After the flu, I felt like death warmed over. / She was feeling like death warmed over after catching a stomach bug.
Alternatively: Very sick / Feeling awful
36. Feeling like I’ve been hit by a truck
Meaning: Feeling very sick or exhausted.
For Example: After the flu, I felt like I’ve been hit by a truck. / He felt like he’s been hit by a truck after working all day.
Alternatively: Feeling really sick / Exhausted
37. Running a high temperature
Meaning: Having a fever.
For Example: He’s running a high temperature and can’t go to school today. / She was running a high temperature all night.
Alternatively: Having a fever / Feeling hot
38. Out of commission
Meaning: Unable to do things because of sickness.
For Example: I’m out of commission today because of my cold. / He’s out of commission after hurting his leg.
Alternatively: Not working / Feeling sick
39. Full of cold
Meaning: Having a lot of cold symptoms.
For Example: I’m full of cold with a stuffy nose and sore throat. / He’s full of cold and can’t stop sneezing.
Alternatively: Sick with a cold / Having cold symptoms
40. Feeling drained
Meaning: Feeling very tired and weak from being sick.
For Example: I’m feeling drained after being sick all week. / She felt drained after catching the flu and couldn’t get out of bed.
Alternatively: Feeling exhausted / Very tired
True/False Quiz: Idioms for Being Sick
- If someone says “I’m feeling under the weather,” it means they are feeling great.
True / False - “Feeling crummy” means feeling good and happy.
True / False - If you’re “coughing up a storm,” it means you’re coughing a little.
True / False - “Running low on energy” means you feel very energetic and active.
True / False - “Feeling blue” means you feel happy and excited.
True / False - “On the mend” means you’re getting worse after being sick.
True / False - “Got a bug” means you’ve caught a cold or flu.
True / False - If someone says they are “feeling weak as a kitten,” it means they feel very strong.
True / False - “Under the covers” means you’re resting in bed because you’re sick.
True / False - “Like a fish out of water” means you feel comfortable in an unfamiliar place.
True / False
Answer Key
- False
- False
- False
- False
- False
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
Scoring Guide
- 10 Correct Answers: Idioms Expert!
- 7-9 Correct Answers: You really know your idioms well done!
- 4-6 Correct Answers: You’re on the right track! Keep practicing.
- 0-3 Correct Answers: Let’s learn about idioms together!
Conclusion
Sickness can make us feel tired, weak, or just plain miserable, but using idioms can help us explain how we feel in a fun and clear way. These idioms give us a way to talk about being sick without just saying “I feel sick.” By learning and using these idioms, you can communicate more easily when you’re not feeling well or when someone else isn’t. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be able to understand and use these idioms in your daily conversations!
