idiom

under the weather

UN-duhr thuh WEH-thuhr

Under the weather (idiom) means Slightly ill or not feeling your usual self. Example: “I'm a bit under the weather today, so I'll join the meeting by phone.”

idiom

informal Slightly ill or not feeling your usual self.

"I'm a bit under the weather today, so I'll join the meeting by phone."

"She had been under the weather all week and finally saw a doctor."

informal, euphemistic Suffering the after-effects of drinking too much alcohol.

"Half the office was distinctly under the weather the morning after the party."

How to use under the weather

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishFeeling a bit ill.

When to use it

Informal but perfectly acceptable in workplace email; it is a polite way of not going into detail.

Memory tip

Use it with 'feel' or 'be'. Say 'I'm feeling under the weather', not 'I have under the weather'.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

under par off colour run down

Common pairings

feeling under the weather a bit under the weather still under the weather

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

I'm a bit _____ today, so I'll join the meeting by phone.

Etymology

From under the weather bow (“affected by bad weather; seasick”); weather bow is a nautical term referring to the side of a ship exposed to bad weather.

Synonyms

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poorly off colour out of sorts unwell peaky hungover worse for wear

Antonyms

fighting fit in good health

Related words

OK completely sick healthy ill drunk badly poorly

Rhymes for under the weather

father lather rather gather Mather leather weather feather heather breather godfather stepfather

See all rhymes for under the weather →

Frequently asked questions

What does 'under the weather' mean exactly?

It means mildly unwell: a cold, a headache, general tiredness. It signals something minor and temporary, so it would be odd to use it about a serious illness such as pneumonia.

Where does the phrase 'under the weather' come from?

It is widely associated with sailing, where a seasick or ailing passenger would go below deck and out of the weather. The nautical link is plausible and often repeated, but the exact origin is not documented with certainty.

Is it polite to say you are under the weather at work?

Yes, and that is much of its usefulness. It excuses you without requiring you to describe symptoms, which is why it is so common in emails to a manager or a client.

What is the meaning of under the weather?

"under the weather" (idiom) means slightly ill or not feeling your usual self.

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OK completely sick healthy ill drunk badly poorly