ˈʌndər ðə ˈweðər
Nature & Weather
informal
beginner
- Literally:
- Below the weather conditions
What does "under the weather" mean?
- Feeling ill or unwell
- Slightly sick, not at one's best
Examples
- I'm feeling a bit under the weather today.
- She stayed home because she was under the weather.
- He's been under the weather since Monday.
Origin
From nautical use—sailors feeling seasick went below deck to get 'under the weather.' Also escaping bad weather effects.
How to use it
Common euphemism for being sick. Implies mild illness, not serious.
Similar expressions
feeling ill
unwell
sick
not well
off-color
Opposites
fit as a fiddle
in good health
feeling great
Related idioms
- out of the blue
Unexpectedly; without warning
- beat around the bush
To avoid talking about the main point of a conversation
- every cloud has a silver lining
There is something positive in every negative situation
- go with the flow
To accept things as they are and adapt accordingly
- once in a blue moon
Very rarely; almost never
- tip of the iceberg
A small visible part of a much larger hidden problem
Use it in a practice answer
Try "under the weather" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.