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Meaning & use

sick as a

phrase·EverydayinformalBritish

Last updated

UK/ˌsɪk əz ə/
US/ˌsɪk əz ə/

Meanings

  1. phrasefixed phraseinformalBritish

    Extremely disappointed or upset about something that happened, especially a defeat or a plan that failed.

    Grammar: Used after the verb be: he was sick as a parrot. The phrase normally ends the sentence or clause.

    Patterns

    • be sick as a parrot about something
    • be sick as a parrot when something happens
    • be sick as a parrot over something

    She was sick as a parrot when her flight was canceled at the last minute.

    The whole team looked sick as a parrot after losing in the final seconds.

    I'll be sick as a parrot if I miss that concert — I've waited two years for it.

  2. phrasefixed phraseinformalhumorousBritish

    Used in speech to say that someone feels very ill, often with a joking or exaggerated tone.

    Grammar: Follows be; the speaker usually says it with a sigh or a laugh, so listeners know it is not serious.

    Patterns

    • be sick as a parrot
    • feel sick as a parrot

    I'm sick as a parrot today — I think it was something I ate last night.

    He came in saying he was sick as a parrot, then ate a full breakfast.

Common combinations

be sick as a parrot
We were sick as a parrot when the tickets sold out.
look sick as a parrot
The players looked sick as a parrot as the trophy went to the other side.
feel sick as a parrot
I felt sick as a parrot after the interview went badly.
sick as a parrot about something
He's still sick as a parrot about missing that penalty.
sick as a parrot when something happens
She was sick as a parrot when her best friend moved away.

Synonyms and how they differ

gutted
Very common in British informal speech for a strong sense of loss or disappointment; it is a single word, so it is easier to use in writing than the full parrot phrase.
disappointed
The neutral, safe choice for any situation; 'sick as a parrot' is much stronger and sounds jokey or dramatic.
devastated
Stronger and more serious than 'sick as a parrot', and it can also describe emotional shock, not just a lost game.

Opposites

delightedthrilled

Word family

sickness noun
The state of being ill, or the act of vomiting.
sickly adjective
Often ill, or looking weak and unhealthy.
sick adjective
Ill, or (in British English) wanting to vomit.
sickening adjective
So unpleasant or shocking that it makes you feel ill.

Commonly confused: sick as a or sick as a dog? sick as a or sick of?

sick as a vs sick as a dog

This American phrase means vomiting a lot or feeling extremely ill; it is about illness, not disappointment. British speakers often use 'sick as a parrot' for disappointment instead.

sick as a vs sick of

'Sick of something' means tired of it and annoyed by it, as in 'I'm sick of this rain'. It has nothing to do with disappointment about a result.

Practice

After their team lost the cup final, the fans were ______.

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