worried sick

Idioms

Also, worried to death. Extremely anxious, as in Her parents were worried sick when she didn't come home all night, or We've been worried to death about the drop in the stock market. These somewhat hyperbolic phrases (one could conceivably feel ill from worrying but would hardly die from it) date from the second half of the 1800s.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The other three are native-born Americans, but she's worried sick every time they leave the house.

From Barron's • Feb. 1, 2026

"This one is for the mums and dads... They, like me, are worried sick about the safety of our kids online," Anthony Albanese said.

From BBC • Dec. 6, 2025

Once upon a time, not long ago, Elon Musk was worried sick about climate change.

From Slate • Mar. 28, 2025

“I’ve spoken to thousands of parents, grandparents, aunties and uncles. They, like me, are worried sick about the safety of our children online.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 8, 2024

She’d be worried sick if she came in and found that he and Boots had disappeared.

From "Gregor the Overlander" by Suzanne Collins

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

worried sick

Example Sentences

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