worried sick

1. 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

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

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

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Representing himself at the court in Gueret, he said he had not been aggressive but he was worried sick.

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He said: "He's the same age as me and he's worried sick of how it's going to be in the future for him."

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Retired nursery owner Seonaid Blackie said: "This is not the place it used to be - people are worried sick."

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Related Words

• afraid 
• apprehensive 
• careful 
• concerned 
• distressed 
• fearful 
• fidgety 
• jittery 
• nervous 
• restless 
• scared 
• uneasy 
• uptight