Under the weather meaning in English
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Definition
to be (or to feel) under the weather: to be (or to feel) a little ill or sick
Polly was feeling under the weather the last time I saw her; she had the flu so was feeling a bit ill.
Examples
- "Polly : Let me guess, you're feeling under the weather again today."
- "I know you were feeling a bit under the weather the last time we spoke."
- "Are you feeling under the weather?"
Exercise 1
I know you were feeling a bit under the weather.
What does Luna mean by this?
What does Luna mean by this?
I know you were feeling a bit under the weather.
What does Luna mean by this?
What does Luna mean by this?
"To sing in the rain", although great fun, is not the meaning of "to feel under the weather".
"To not be happy with the bad weather" is not the meaning of "to feel under the weather". "To not be happy with the bad weather" has a literal meaning, and refers to being displeased by rain, cold, etc.
"To be (or to feel) under the weather" is an idiom which means "to be sick" and especially "to have a cold" or "the flu".
"To have the blues" is not the meaning of the expression "to feel (or to be) under the weather". "To have the blues" means the same thing as "to be down", "to be feeling sad" or "to be depressed".
Exercise 2
"Are you feeling under the weather?"
To feel under the weather is to feel .
To feel under the weather is to feel .
"Are you feeling under the weather?"
To feel under the weather is to feel slightly ill.
To feel under the weather is to feel slightly ill.
slightly ill: This is correct. When Donna says to Icarus "Are you feeling under the weather?" she wants to know if Icarus is feeling ill. "(To feel) under the weather" is to feel "sick" or "ill" often because you have a cold or the flu. Example: I feel really under the weather this morning, I spent the whole night sleeping in a cold prison cell.
the cold easily: This is incorrect. The expression "under the weather" does not mean that one feels the cold easily.
sick of the lack of sun: This is incorrect. To feel "under the weather" does not mean that one feels sick of the lack of sun.
the blues: This is incorrect. To feel "under the weather" does not mean that one feels the blues. To have the "blues" is to be in a state of depression, it is a strange feeling that is often best accompanied by some melancholy music and a glass of bourbon whisky.
Exercise 3
Which of these statements best describes what is happening in this dialogue?
Which of these statements best describes what is happening in this dialogue?
Polly mocks Philip because she thinks he is only pretending to be sick, so she tells him that he has "ebola" - a very deadly, very contagious disease. Philip is not asking Polly for medical advice.
Philip calls Polly and tells her that he is feeling ill. Although Philip never tells Polly that he needs to stay at home, it's clear that this is the purpose of his call. The expression "to call in sick" means to call the office in order to announce to them that you will not come to work today. People use this expression both when they are sick, and when they simply want to take the day off!
There is no way that Polly could accept or reject Philip's doctor's note because he has not yet brought one to the office. This is why Polly says "don't forget to bring the doctor's note".
Polly suggests that Philip is "feeling a little under the weather", but this is an idiom which means that Philip is "feeling sick" and has nothing to do with the actual weather. To "complain" is to express one's dissatisfaction or resentment.
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