under the weather

Cultural  

1. Indisposed, unwell: “The day after the big party, Jay had to call in sick, saying he was feeling under the weather.”

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under the weather Idioms  

1. Ailing, ill; also, suffering from a hangover. For example, She said she was under the weather and couldn't make it to the meeting. This expression presumably alludes to the influence of the weather on one's health. [Early 1800s] The same term is sometimes used as a euphemism for being drunk, as in After four drinks, Ellen was a bit under the weather.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

under the weather

Britain's Harriet Dart said she felt "under the weather" as she struggled in the heat during her second-round loss to Marie Bouzkova at the US Open.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

In his opening remarks Friday night, Giuliani coughed and said, “My voice is a little under the weather, so I won’t be able to speak as loudly as I usually do.”

From Los Angeles Times ● May 3, 2026

Dick Van Dyke was reportedly under the weather Saturday and couldn’t host his recurring Vandy Camp fan event with his wife at the couple’s namesake theater at Malibu High School.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2025

Being under the weather couldn't keep Morgan from keeping tabs on the team and his Knicks-branded phone case was visible in the photo.

From Salon ● Mar. 19, 2025

Ethel filled in for the regular teacher when she was under the weather.

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead