that's sick

Meanings

1. 1phrasefixed phraseslangapproving

   An enthusiastic reaction meaning something is extremely impressive, skillful or cool.

   Grammar: A complete reaction spoken on its own: 'That's sick!' after a great trick.

   Patterns

   • that's sick!
   • that is so sick

   You landed that trick on the first try? That's sick!

   Look at the lights on this stage, that's sick.

   He built a whole game by himself, that's sick.

2. 2phrasefixed phraseinformaldisapproving

   A reaction meaning something is disgusting, cruel or morally wrong.

   Grammar: The tone of voice shows disgust rather than praise.

   Patterns

   • that's sick
   • that's just sick

   They laughed at him when he fell? That's sick.

   Leaving the dog outside all night is just sick.

   Pranks like that are sick and not funny.

Common combinations

that's absolutely sick

Your new bike? That's absolutely sick.

that's so sick

That's so sick, I need to try it.

that is just sick

Cheating on a charity race is just sick.

sick trick

That was a sick trick on the half-pipe.

Synonyms and how they differ

awesome

It is milder and works in all settings, while that's sick belongs to casual youth talk.

amazing

It is neutral and polite, whereas that's sick signals a cool, slangy tone.

disgusting

It only expresses revulsion, while that's sick can mean either strong praise or revulsion.

cool

It is more general and gentler, with less intensity than that's sick.

Opposites

Word family

sick adjective

ill; in slang, excellent

sickening adjective

causing disgust or shock

sickly adjective

often unwell or looking weak

sickness noun

the state of being ill

Commonly confused: that's sick or I'm sick?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “that's sick”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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