Idiom Topics

  • The Ubiquitous Essentials

    10
    • On the other hand
    • At the end of the day
    • In the long run
    • Bear in mind
    • A piece of cake
    • Keep an eye on
    • Out of the blue
    • Rule of thumb
    • So far, so good
    • Behind the scenes

  • Everyday Casual & Workplace

    10
    • Under the weather
    • Call it a day
    • Up in the air
    • Wrap your head around
    • Break the ice
    • Get out of hand
    • Go the extra mile
    • Touch base
    • Hit the nail on the head
    • Cut corners

  • Problem Solving & Interaction

    10
    • See eye to eye
    • Read between the lines
    • Take it with a grain of salt
    • Get the hang of it
    • Give the benefit of the doubt
    • The elephant in the room
    • Hit the ground running
    • Play it by ear
    • Bite the bullet
    • Sit on the fence

  • Decisions & Perspectives

    9
    • Jump on the bandwagon
    • Cross that bridge when we come to it
    • The best of both worlds
    • A blessing in disguise
    • Once in a blue moon
    • Pull someone's leg
    • Miss the boat
    • Better late than never
    • Get your act together

  • Colorful & Traditional

    10
    • Spill the beans
    • Let the cat out of the bag
    • Bite off more than you can chew
    • Go back to the drawing board
    • Barking up the wrong tree
    • Actions speak louder than words
    • A penny for your thoughts
    • Break a leg
    • Hit the sack
    • Beat around the bush

  • Academic & Formal Discourse

    10
    • Bear fruit
    • Pave the way
    • Shed light on
    • Go hand in hand
    • Tip the scales
    • Fly in the face of
    • Bring to the table
    • Turn a blind eye
    • Draw a blank
    • State of the art

  • Emotions & Reactions

    10
    • Over the moon
    • Down in the dumps
    • On edge
    • Blow off steam
    • Keep your cool
    • Drive someone up the wall
    • On cloud nine
    • A weight off my shoulders
    • At your wits' end
    • Thrilled to bits

  • Effort, Success, & Failure

    10
    • Start from scratch
    • Pass with flying colors
    • Fall flat
    • Go down the drain
    • Keep your head above water
    • Pay off
    • Throw in the towel
    • Make headway
    • Uphill battle
    • Back to square one

  • Time, Speed, & Urgency

    10
    • Beat the clock
    • At the eleventh hour
    • Around the clock
    • In the nick of time
    • Drag your feet
    • Time flies
    • Make up for lost time
    • Call time on
    • Ahead of the curve
    • On the spur of the moment

  • Resources, Money, & Value

    10
    • Make ends meet
    • Foot the bill
    • Break the bank
    • Tighten your belt
    • Bang for your buck
    • A drop in the ocean
    • Make a killing
    • On a shoestring budget
    • Worth your weight in gold
    • Pay top dollar

Under the weather

Learn the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom "Under the weather" with five example sentences across different contexts. This idiom is part of ourEveryday Casual & Workplace collection for PTE and IELTS preparation.

Everyday Casual & Workplace

Under the weather

Under the weather
Feeling slightly sick, unwell, or tired; not in one's usual health.
History & Origin

This phrase has a nautical origin dating back to the days of old sailing ships. When a sailor felt seasick during a storm, they would be sent below deck, literally placing them 'under the weather' rail where the rocking of the ship was minimized. Over time, the phrase evolved to describe anyone feeling physically unwell or slightly sick.

Examples
Workplace Email

Hi Sarah, I am feeling a bit under the weather today, so I will be working from home and dialing into our afternoon meeting remotely.

Casual Conversation

I would love to come to the cinema tonight, but I've been feeling under the weather all morning with a terrible headache.

Academic Writing

Psychological studies indicate that when individuals feel physically under the weather, their cognitive performance and workplace productivity can decrease by up to fifteen percent.

News/Media

The star forward sat out of Thursday's practice session because he was slightly under the weather, but the coach expects him to play in Saturday's final.

Formal Speech

Our keynote speaker is unfortunately under the weather today, but she has graciously recorded her presentation for us to watch.

Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses the idiom correctly?

A. After working a twelve-hour shift in the rain, Mark felt completely under the weather.

B. She forgot her umbrella, so she was standing directly under the weather for an hour.

C. The broken smartphone was so under the weather that the technician could not repair it.

D. If you study hard and pass your final exam, you will feel incredibly under the weather.