under the weather

Meaning

This idiom is used to describe feeling slightly sick, tired, or unwell, but not seriously ill. It is commonly used when you have a cold, mild flu, or are just feeling run down. It has a neutral tone and is highly common in both everyday conversations and professional emails when calling in sick.

Examples

• I'm feeling a bit under the weather today, so I think I'll work from home.

  I'm feeling a bit under the weather today, so I think I'll work from home.

• Sarah called in sick because she was feeling under the weather.

  Sarah called in sick because she was feeling under the weather.

• You look a little under the weather; why don't you go home and get some rest?

  You look a little under the weather; why don't you go home and get some rest?

• After traveling for twenty hours, I woke up feeling a bit under the weather.

  After traveling for twenty hours, I woke up feeling a bit under the weather.

• He's been under the weather all week, but he's finally starting to feel better.

  He's been under the weather all week, but he's finally starting to feel better.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I am below the weather today.

  ✓ I am under the weather today.

  Learners often translate this literally from their native language or confuse the preposition. The correct fixed idiom always uses 'under'.

• ✗ He is under the weather with cancer.

  ✓ He is very ill with cancer.

  'Under the weather' is reserved for minor illnesses like colds, headaches, or fatigue. It should not be used for severe, life-threatening, or long-term chronic conditions.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I think I'm coming down with something; I've been feeling a bit ___ all morning.

  💡 Slightly sick

  Show answer

  under the weather

• She decided to skip the party because she was feeling ___.

  💡 Unwell but not seriously ill

  Show answer

  under the weather