Idioms are vibrant, expressive phrases that add flair and depth to our language, often conveying meanings far beyond their literal words. They’re like linguistic shortcuts, packing complex emotions or situations into concise, memorable expressions. When it comes to describing illness, feeling unwell, or the struggles of poor health, idioms provide a creative way to communicate these experiences with humor, empathy, or vivid imagery. For anyone looking to enrich their vocabulary or better understand conversations, learning idioms related to sickness is both practical and engaging. These phrases are commonly used in everyday life, from casual chats with friends to workplace discussions, making them essential for clear and relatable communication.
Health-related idioms are particularly valuable because they resonate with universal experiences—everyone gets sick at some point, and these expressions capture the physical and emotional toll in ways that are relatable and often lighthearted. They can also offer comfort, inject humor, or describe recovery in a way that feels vivid and human. In this comprehensive blog post, you’ll discover 55 idioms for sickness, complete with their meanings, example sentences, and alternative ways to express them. Plus, we’ve included a fun exercise to help you practice these idioms and make them a natural part of your conversations. So, let’s dive into this colorful collection of sickly sayings and explore the art of expressing illness with style!
Idioms for Sick
1. Under the weather
Meaning: Feeling slightly unwell or out of sorts.
In a Sentence: After catching a cold during the rainy weekend, Sarah felt under the weather and decided to stay home from school.
Other Ways to Say: Feeling off, Not quite right
2. Sick as a dog
Meaning: Extremely ill or feeling very unwell.
In a Sentence: Poor Tom was sick as a dog after eating that questionable sushi from the food truck last night.
Other Ways to Say: Really unwell, Terribly sick
3. Down with something
Meaning: Suffering from an illness, usually a temporary one.
In a Sentence: I’ve been down with something nasty all week, probably the flu that’s been going around the office.
Other Ways to Say: Caught a bug, Under the weather
4. Out of sorts
Meaning: Feeling unwell or not in one’s usual good health.
In a Sentence: Ever since the long flight, Maria has been out of sorts, with a headache and no energy to spare.
Other Ways to Say: Off-color, Not feeling oneself
5. Run down
Meaning: Feeling tired or physically exhausted, often due to overwork or illness.
In a Sentence: Between working overtime and fighting off a cold, Jake felt completely run down and needed a day to rest.
Other Ways to Say: Worn out, Drained
6. Off-color
Meaning: Not feeling well or slightly unwell, often with a sense of unease.
In a Sentence: Grandma seemed a bit off-color at the family dinner, so we encouraged her to see a doctor just in case.
Other Ways to Say: Under the weather, Not quite right
7. Green around the gills
Meaning: Looking pale or sick, often due to nausea or dizziness.
In a Sentence: After the bumpy boat ride, Mark was green around the gills and had to lie down for a while.
Other Ways to Say: Looking queasy, Pale and unwell
8. At death’s door
Meaning: Extremely ill, to the point of seeming close to death.
In a Sentence: The doctor warned that without immediate treatment, the patient could be at death’s door within hours.
Other Ways to Say: Critically ill, On the brink
9. Catch a cold
Meaning: To contract a common cold or minor illness.
In a Sentence: If you don’t wear a jacket in this chilly weather, you’re likely to catch a cold before the week is over.
Other Ways to Say: Come down with a cold, Get sick
10. Come down with something
Meaning: To start suffering from an illness.
In a Sentence: Just as the vacation started, Lisa came down with something and had to spend the first day in bed.
Other Ways to Say: Catch an illness, Fall sick
11. In the grip of a fever
Meaning: Suffering from a high fever or intense illness.
In a Sentence: Poor little Timmy was in the grip of a fever all night, tossing and turning with chills.
Other Ways to Say: Burning up, Feverish
12. Laid up
Meaning: Confined to bed or unable to function due to illness or injury.
In a Sentence: After twisting his ankle and catching the flu, Mike was laid up at home for nearly two weeks.
Other Ways to Say: Bedridden, Out of action
13. On the mend
Meaning: Recovering from an illness or injury.
In a Sentence: After a rough bout with bronchitis, Emma is finally on the mend and feeling stronger each day.
Other Ways to Say: Getting better, Recovering
14. Back on your feet
Meaning: Fully recovered from an illness or setback.
In a Sentence: It took a few weeks, but Grandpa is back on his feet after that nasty stomach bug.
Other Ways to Say: Fully recovered, Up and about
15. Feeling rough
Meaning: Experiencing discomfort or illness, often with vague symptoms.
In a Sentence: I woke up feeling rough today, with a sore throat and a pounding headache that won’t quit.
Other Ways to Say: Under the weather, Not great
16. Out of commission
Meaning: Unable to function or participate due to illness or injury.
In a Sentence: With a sprained wrist and a cold, Jenny was out of commission for the entire soccer season.
Other Ways to Say: Sidelined, Out of action
17. Sick to your stomach
Meaning: Feeling nauseous or extremely unwell.
In a Sentence: The smell of that spoiled milk made me sick to my stomach, and I had to leave the room.
Other Ways to Say: Queasy, Nauseated
18. Under the knife
Meaning: Undergoing surgery.
In a Sentence: Uncle Bob is under the knife today for his knee replacement, so we’re all wishing him well.
Other Ways to Say: Having surgery, In the operating room
19. Pale as a ghost
Meaning: Looking very pale due to illness or shock.
In a Sentence: When she walked into the room, she was pale as a ghost, clearly still recovering from the flu.
Other Ways to Say: White as a sheet, Looking sickly
20. In poor health
Meaning: Suffering from ongoing or chronic illness.
In a Sentence: Ever since his diagnosis, Mr. Thompson has been in poor health and needs regular checkups.
Other Ways to Say: Chronically ill, Not well
21. Fighting fit
Meaning: In excellent health after recovery.
In a Sentence: After months of physical therapy, Laura is fighting fit and ready to run her first marathon.
Other Ways to Say: In top shape, Fully recovered
22. One foot in the grave
Meaning: Very ill or close to death.
In a Sentence: The doctor said if we don’t act fast, the infection could leave her with one foot in the grave.
Other Ways to Say: Critically ill, Near death
23. Not up to par
Meaning: Not feeling as healthy or capable as usual.
In a Sentence: I tried to play basketball, but I’m not up to par after that sinus infection last week.
Other Ways to Say: Below form, Under the weather
24. Down in the dumps
Meaning: Feeling depressed or unwell, often emotionally.
In a Sentence: Between the flu and missing her best friend’s party, Clara was really down in the dumps.
Other Ways to Say: Feeling low, Blue
25. Sick and tired
Meaning: Extremely fed up or physically unwell.
In a Sentence: I’m sick and tired of this lingering cough that’s been dragging me down for weeks.
Other Ways to Say: Fed up and unwell, Exhausted by illness
26. In the pink
Meaning: In excellent health or condition.
In a Sentence: After a week of rest and vitamins, Sophie was back in the pink and full of energy.
Other Ways to Say: Healthy as a horse, In great shape
27. As weak as a kitten
Meaning: Extremely weak or frail, often due to illness.
In a Sentence: The fever left him as weak as a kitten, barely able to lift a glass of water.
Other Ways to Say: Feeble, Drained
28. Burning up
Meaning: Having a high fever or feeling very hot.
In a Sentence: Little Amy was burning up with a fever, so we rushed her to the doctor right away.
Other Ways to Say: Feverish, Overheated
28. Burning up
Meaning: Having a high fever or feeling very hot.
In a Sentence: Little Amy was burning up with a fever, so we rushed her to the doctor right away.
Other Ways to Say: Feverish, Overheated
29. Croak
Meaning: To die or become very ill (informal).
In a Sentence: If I don’t get this flu treated soon, I feel like I might croak before the weekend!
Other Ways to Say: Kick the bucket, Pass away
30. Ailing
Meaning: Suffering from a minor or chronic illness.
In a Sentence: The ailing patient needed constant care to manage her persistent cough and fatigue.
Other Ways to Say: Unwell, Sickly
31. On its last legs
Meaning: In very poor condition, close to breaking down or dying.
In a Sentence: After weeks of battling pneumonia, his immune system seemed to be on its last legs.
Other Ways to Say: Falling apart, Near collapse
32. Feeling blue
Meaning: Feeling sad or unwell, often emotionally.
In a Sentence: Catching a cold and missing the school dance left Mia feeling blue all weekend.
Other Ways to Say: Down in the dumps, Depressed
33. In bad shape
Meaning: In poor physical or emotional condition.
In a Sentence: After neglecting his health for months, Dan was in bad shape and needed serious rest.
Other Ways to Say: In rough condition, Unwell
34. Fit as a fiddle
Meaning: In excellent health or physical condition.
In a Sentence: After recovering from the virus, she was fit as a fiddle and back to her daily jogs.
Other Ways to Say: In great shape, Healthy as can be
35. Knocked out
Meaning: Completely exhausted or incapacitated by illness.
In a Sentence: That stomach bug knocked me out for three days—I couldn’t even get out of bed.
Other Ways to Say: Wiped out, Down for the count
36. Under the weather
Meaning: Feeling slightly unwell or out of sorts.
In a Sentence: With a sore throat and stuffy nose, I’ve been under the weather and skipping my workouts.
Other Ways to Say: Feeling off, Not quite right
37. Queasy
Meaning: Feeling nauseous or uneasy in the stomach.
In a Sentence: The smell of the hospital cafeteria made her feel queasy, and she had to step outside.
Other Ways to Say: Nauseated, Sick to the stomach
38. Sicker than a dog
Meaning: Extremely ill, often with severe symptoms.
In a Sentence: After eating that expired yogurt, I was sicker than a dog and stuck in bed all day.
Other Ways to Say: Terribly unwell, Really sick
39. Bedridden
Meaning: Confined to bed due to illness or injury.
In a Sentence: A bad case of the flu left her bedridden for nearly a week, unable to do anything.
Other Ways to Say: Laid up, Stuck in bed
40. Wiped out
Meaning: Completely exhausted or incapacitated by illness.
In a Sentence: The virus wiped me out so badly that I slept for 12 hours straight yesterday.
Other Ways to Say: Knocked out, Drained
41. Out of action
Meaning: Unable to function or participate due to illness or injury.
In a Sentence: A nasty sprain and a cold kept her out of action for the entire volleyball tournament.
Other Ways to Say: Sidelined, Down and out
42. Down for the count
Meaning: Completely incapacitated, often by illness or exhaustion.
In a Sentence: That migraine hit me so hard I was down for the count and missed the whole party.
Other Ways to Say: Knocked out, Out of commission
43. Feeling under par
Meaning: Not feeling as healthy or energetic as usual.
In a Sentence: I’ve been feeling under par since the weekend, probably because of this lingering cough.
Other Ways to Say: Not up to par, Off form–
44. In the wars
Meaning: Experiencing multiple ailments or injuries.
In a Sentence: Between a twisted ankle and a nasty cold, poor Sam has really been in the wars lately.
Other Ways to Say: Battered and bruised, Down and out
45. Peaked
Meaning: Looking unwell or pale.
In a Sentence: You look a bit peaked today—are you sure you’re feeling okay after that long trip?
Other Ways to Say: Pale, Under the weather
46. Rough around the edges
Meaning: Feeling or looking slightly unwell or disheveled.
In a Sentence: After a sleepless night with a fever, she was rough around the edges but still went to work.
Other Ways to Say: Not at your best, A bit off
47. Sickly
Meaning: Frequently or chronically unwell.
In a Sentence: The sickly child needed extra care during flu season to avoid catching every bug.
Other Ways to Say: Frail, Prone to illness
48. In a bad way
Meaning: In serious physical or emotional distress.
In a Sentence: After collapsing from dehydration, he was in a bad way and needed urgent medical attention.
Other Ways to Say: In rough shape, Seriously unwell
49. Over the worst
Meaning: Past the most severe part of an illness and starting to recover.
In a Sentence: The fever broke last night, so I’m finally over the worst and feeling hopeful again.
Other Ways to Say: On the mend, Past the peak
50. Up and about
Meaning: Recovering and able to move around after an illness.
In a Sentence: After a week in bed, she’s finally up and about, though still taking it easy.
Other Ways to Say: Back on your feet, Mobile again
51. Not firing on all cylinders
Meaning: Not functioning at full capacity, often due to illness or fatigue.
In a Sentence: I’m not firing on all cylinders today after that cold, so I’ll need some extra time.
Other Ways to Say: Not at full strength, Off your game
52. Dragging your feet
Meaning: Moving slowly or feeling sluggish due to illness or exhaustion.
In a Sentence: The flu left me dragging my feet all day, barely able to keep up with my tasks.
Other Ways to Say: Moving slowly, Lacking energy
53. Out of kilter
Meaning: Not in proper balance or health.
In a Sentence: Ever since that stomach bug, my system has been out of kilter, and I can’t eat normally.
Other Ways to Say: Off balance, Not right
54. Bouncing back
Meaning: Recovering quickly from an illness or setback.
In a Sentence: Kids are amazing—she was sick yesterday but is already bouncing back today!
Other Ways to Say: Recovering fast, Getting better
55. A shadow of your former self
Meaning: Looking or feeling much weaker or less vibrant due to illness.
In a Sentence: After weeks of battling the infection, he was a shadow of his former self, but still smiling.
Other Ways to Say: Not yourself, Weakened
Practical Exercise
Fill in the blanks:
- After forgetting his jacket in the rain, Timmy was sure he’d _______ a cold by morning.
- The stomach flu left her _______ as a dog, unable to keep anything down for days.
- With a fever and chills, she was _______ up and needed ice packs to cool down.
- Missing the field trip because of a sore throat left him feeling _______ in the dumps.
- After surgery, Grandpa was _______ up for weeks, recovering slowly but surely.
- The doctor warned that without treatment, the infection could leave her _______ death’s door.
- A week of rest and soup finally got her _______ the worst of the flu.
- Despite the cold, she was _______ back and ready to join her friends at school.
- That nasty virus left me _______ out, sleeping for hours and missing work.
- After recovering from pneumonia, she was _______ as a fiddle and back to hiking.
- The long illness left him _______ of his former self, but he’s slowly regaining strength.
- Feeling _______ around the gills after the car ride, she needed fresh air to recover.
Answers:
catch, sick, burning, down, laid, at, over, bouncing, wiped, fit, a shadow, green
Conclusion
Idioms for sickness are a lively and expressive way to describe the ups and downs of health, from minor sniffles to serious ailments. They bring humor, empathy, and vivid imagery to conversations, making it easier to connect with others about shared experiences. By incorporating these 55 idioms into your vocabulary, you’ll be able to communicate more colorfully and understand the nuances of everyday speech with ease.
Practice these phrases in real-life scenarios—whether you’re chatting with friends, explaining how you feel to a doctor, or even writing a story. Over time, they’ll become second nature, adding richness and personality to your language. Illness may not be fun, but talking about it with these idioms can certainly make it more interesting!