10 idioms about sickness and health that will liven up your writing
- Here are some phrases to help your English writing more interesting
- Using more colourful language helps keep the reader's attention
Illness and health are always with us and form a colourful part of our language. Here are 10 idioms you can use to brighten your writing.
Not to be sneezed/sniffed at
Something should not be taken too lightly.
“Peggy offered to buy the car for $120,000. It was not an amount to be sneezed at.”
Suffer from foot-in-mouth disease
Always saying the wrong thing. Foot AND mouth disease and hand, foot AND mouth disease are both quite serious illnesses. But to say someone has “foot-in-mouth disease” is a fun way to say they are quite awkward.
“I hate public speaking. I suffer from foot-in-mouth disease.”
Take a turn for the worse
Become more ill.
"Unfortunately, her health has taken a turn for the worse."
Be up and about
Recover from an illness.
“My grandmother was in bed with the flu, but she’s been up and about this morning.”
Pass out
To lose consciousness.
“I didn’t eat any breakfast, and was feeling so light headed I thought I might pass out at any moment.”
Passed on
Died. Many people don’t like to abruptly say that someone died. So they use other sayings, like “passed on” or “passed away”.
“My grandfather passed on last year.”
Over the worst
Getting steadily better. Be careful not to mix up the words “worse” and “worst”. Worse is used when comparing things: Maths is worse than geography. Worst is the baddest of all.
"She's still not feeling well, but at least she's over the worst."
At death’s door
Sick enough to die.
“I had such a fever, I was convinced I was at death’s door when the medicine began to work.”
Go under the knife
Have surgery.
“I thought that by eating well, I would cure my gall bladder inflammations, but it didn’t work and so now I will have to go under the knife.”
Under anaesthetic
To be made chemically unconscious by a medic. Under means the loss of consciousness.
“When you’re under anaesthetic, you are not aware of anything that’s happening to you.”