Level B2

under the weather

feeling slightly ill

In Spanish

no sentirse bien, estar pachucho

Examples

  • I'm a bit under the weather today — could we reschedule?
  • She didn't come to the party because she was feeling under the weather.
  • After running in the rain, I've been under the weather all week.

When it's used

'Under the weather' is frequently used in informal conversations to describe feeling slightly unwell. It is common among native speakers but is not used in formal contexts. You often hear it in everyday situations, such as at home or among friends.

The common mistake

A common mistake is translating the idiom literally as 'under the climate'. While it may sound logical, this phrase is not English and does not convey the intended meaning.

Related idioms

Recognising it isn't the same as using it

Reading an idiom and understanding it is step one. Dropping it into a conversation, at the right moment, without stopping to think, is another — and that only comes from speaking.

Practise speaking