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

I could tell she was feeling a little under the weather that day but she didn’t ask for any special treatment, and kindly and happily took direction.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 23, 2025

LIV said it was because of illness and he had been "feeling under the weather all week".

From BBC • Jun. 28, 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

The pope has been under the weather for several days.

From New York Times • Feb. 28, 2024

Otto was particularly under the weather that day, so I left him in the care of Mama Marie-France, knocked out by cough syrup, snoring under a tree.

From "Endangered" by Eliot Schrefer