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[1188] Under the weather

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English Idioms
All Idioms

Explanation

  • Feeling slightly ill, unwell, or sick.
  • Not seriously ill, but not feeling one's best.

Origin

  • A nautical term originating in the days of sailing ships.
  • When a sailor felt seasick or unwell, they would go below deck, away from the 'weather' (wind, rain, spray).
  • Thus, they were literally 'under the weather'.
  • The phrase evolved to mean generally feeling unwell by the mid-19th century.

Synonyms & Related Expressions

  • Feeling unwell
  • Sick / Ill (can imply more severity)
  • Poorly (UK/Aus)
  • Feeling off / Out of sorts
  • Not feeling well / Not feeling 100%
  • Coming down with something (suggests the start of an illness)

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

  • Feeling crummy / lousy / grotty (UK) / rough
  • Off-colour (UK/Aus)
  • Feeling like death warmed up (Humorous exaggeration)
  • Feeling like crap / shit (Vulgar)

More Formal:

  • Indisposed
  • Unwell
  • Experiencing mild malaise

Situational Appropriateness

  • Appropriate in almost all situations, formal and informal.
  • It's a common, polite, and somewhat vague way to state you're unwell without needing to provide details.

Misunderstanding Warnings

  • Learners might be confused by the literal meaning related to weather conditions (rain, sun).
  • Clarify that it exclusively means feeling physically unwell.

Examples

  • I'm staying home from work today; I feel a bit under the weather.
  • Sorry I missed the party, I was feeling under the weather.
  • She seems a little under the weather, maybe she's catching a cold.

Dialogue

Manager: Has anyone seen Paula this morning?

Colleague: She called in sick. Said she's feeling a bit under the weather.

Manager: Okay, thanks for letting me know. I hope she feels better quickly.

Social Media Examples

  • Feeling a bit under the weather today, so cancelling my plans and opting for soup and Netflix. 🤒 #SickDay #RestAndRecovery
  • Apologies for the radio silence, been feeling under the weather lately. Hope to be back soon! #Unwell #TakingABreak

Response Patterns

  • Expressing sympathy: Oh no, I'm sorry to hear that., That's too bad.
  • Wishing well: I hope you feel better soon., Get well soon., Take care of yourself.
  • Asking for details (optional, depending on closeness): Oh? What's wrong?, Is it anything serious?

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

After someone says they are under the weather:

  • Express sympathy (Sorry to hear that).
  • Offer well wishes (Hope you feel better soon).
  • Offer practical help (Can I get you anything?, Let me know if you need something).
  • Sometimes ask gently about the cause (Just a cold?, Something you ate?).

Conversation Starter

  • No. Usually a response to How are you? or an explanation for absence or lack of energy.

Intonation

  • Usually spoken with a neutral or slightly subdued tone.
  • Slight emphasis on under and weather. I'm feeling a bit UNDER the WEATHER.

Generation Differences

  • Used and understood by all generations.

Regional Variations

  • Very common in all major English-speaking regions.
Twist someone's arm
🎲 Up in the air