I’m knocking on death’s door or I’m at death’s door.Hopefully, you won’t have to use this phrase very often. If you’re sick as a dog, you’re truly sick and should be at home in bed and/or need to see a doctor. This is an older phrase that is a step above under the weather. However, Americans also use it to convey illness. Rough is a chameleon of an expression because unlike under the weather this phrase can also imply that you were out all night and not necessarily sick. This expression has the same meaning as under the weather and is the closest phrase to a true synonym. This is a general expression that can be used in many contexts. It could convey dizziness, fatigue, exhaustion, confusion, brain fog, or illness. In English, there are a few other ways to express unpleasant feelings in the body, so let’s explore some of those phrases.įeeling a little off expresses you don’t feel well, but you’re not sure why.
Under the weather isn’t the only way to say you’re not feeling well. “‘ I own Jessica is somewhat under the weather to-day, figuratively and literally,’ said the gentleman, amusedly, giving a glance at the lady over in the corner.” – Jeffersonville Daily Evening News, 1835. even cites a print usage of the word as early as 1835 that has no reference to sailors. Over time, the phrase left the mouths of sailors and made its way off the boats into the common language of everyone else.
Sourced from the book: Salty Dog Talk: The Nautical Origins of Everyday Expressions by Bill Beavis and Michael Howorth, the original phrase is “under the weather bow” which is the side of the ship where the bad weather is blowing At the time, when there was bad weather, sailors who were getting seasick would go below deck to get away from the conditions. The phrase actually has nautical (boat or ship related) origins and has been traced all the way back to the early 19th century (it could be older). People associate rainy or cold days with getting sick, but they say you have to stay outside in bad weather for a while.Īnd why under the weather? Why not in the weather? After all, in a plane, car or boat we say, “We ran into some bad weather.”
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