Meaning & use
feeling under weather
Last updated
Meaning
phraselinkinginformal
slightly ill or not feeling well, often with a cold or tiredness
Grammar: Usually used after 'be' or 'feel': I'm feeling under the weather. The article 'the' is almost always included.
Patterns
- be under the weather
- feel under the weather
- a bit under the weather
I'm feeling a bit under the weather today, so I'll stay home.
She's been under the weather all week and hasn't eaten much.
He looked under the weather, so we told him to rest.
Common combinations
- a bit under the weather
- I'm a bit under the weather, but I'll be fine tomorrow.
- feeling under the weather
- Feeling under the weather, she canceled her plans.
- be under the weather
- He's been under the weather since Monday.
Synonyms and how they differ
- unwell
- More formal and neutral; it can cover more serious illness than 'under the weather'.
- poorly
- Common in British English and slightly more serious; 'under the weather' suggests a mild, passing illness.
- sick
- Stronger and more direct; in American English it often means vomiting, which 'under the weather' does not.
Opposites
Word family
- weather noun
- The conditions outside, such as rain, sun, and wind.
Commonly confused: feeling under weather or under the influence?
feeling under weather vs under the influence
This means affected by alcohol or drugs, not ill. Do not mix the two idioms.
Practice
I'm feeling a bit ___ the weather today, so I'll skip the meeting.
Choose one answer.
The fixed idiom is 'under the weather'. 'Below', 'down', and 'in' do not form this expression, though 'down' can mean sad.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “feeling under weather”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.