Idiom
Under the weather
By EasySay. Published . Updated .
Under the weather means feeling a little unwell.
You might have a cold or a headache, or you might simply be very tired. It is a polite, gentle way to say you are not at your best, and you can say it to a boss or a teacher. People use it in Australia, the UK and the US.
Written for EasySay, in our own words.
In short
- AvoidDo not use it for a serious illness.
- Or sayNot feeling well
Under the weather: what it is, and what it is not
- IS
- Feeling a little unwell or tired, not at your best.
- IS
- Cambridge and Longman label it informal.
- IS NOT
- About standing below rain or wind: it means feeling a little unwell or tired.
Meaning: Feeling a little unwell or tired, not at your best.
How do people say it?
- In conversation:
I stayed home yesterday because I felt a bit under the weather.
- At work:
Sorry, I am under the weather today, so I will join the meeting by phone.
Check yourself
What should I know?
The words say
A person standing below the weather, as if rain or wind sat on top of them.
It really means
You feel a little sick, tired or low, usually for a short time. Some dictionaries also list a second meaning, drunk or hungover, so say what is wrong if you want to be clear.
What do dictionaries say?
- In Australia
- Cambridge and Longman label it informal. The dictionaries we checked give it no Australian label, so it is general English, not only from Australia.
- In the UK
- The dictionaries we checked give it no British label, so it is general English, not only from the UK.
- In the US
- The dictionaries we checked give it no American label, so it is general English, not only from the US.
What mistakes should I avoid?
- Do not use it for a serious illness. If someone is in hospital, say that they are ill or in hospital.
- Say “the weather”, not “a weather” or “the rain”. The three words stay the same.
- It is not about the sky. Do not use it to say that the day is rainy or cold.
What should I not mix it up with?
- Kick the bucket A casual way to say “to die”. Also used for a machine that stops working for good.
You can feel under the weather, be under the weather or look under the weather. People often soften the phrase with “a bit” or “a little”, as in “I am a bit under the weather.”
It describes a person, so it comes after a word such as feel, be or look. It does not go in front of a noun, so you cannot say “an under the weather day”.
Choose this phrase when you want to say that you are not well but you do not want to give details. That makes it useful at work, because it explains a missed meeting without talking about your body.
It is also kind when you ask about someone else: “You seem a bit under the weather. Can I help?” With a doctor, use plain facts instead, such as a sore throat or a fever, because a doctor needs the details.
Here is a picture to help you remember it. Imagine a small grey cloud that follows you around all day. You are not in a storm, and nothing terrible has happened, but you do not feel bright.
You are under the cloud, so you are under the weather. The picture keeps the meaning small and short, which is how people use the phrase. When the cloud goes away, you are no longer under the weather.
What else can I say?
- Not feeling well Plain and clear in any country. People say “I have not been feeling well this week.”
- A bit off colour British. People say “You look a bit off colour today.”
- Crook Australian slang for sick. People say “I’m feeling a bit crook.”
More idioms
- Cold turkey Stopping a habit suddenly and completely, with no slow steps.
- Burn the midnight oil To work or study late into the night, often to meet a deadline.
- On cloud nine Very happy; floating with joy after good news.
- Raining cats and dogs Raining very hard; a downpour.
More examples
- In a text:
Running late. Feeling under the weather, but I will be there by ten.
Questions people ask
Is “under the weather” a polite thing to say at work?
Yes. It is gentle and common, so it works with a manager or a customer. It tells people you are not well without giving any details.
Does “under the weather” mean bad weather?
No. It is about how a person feels. It describes how a person feels, not rain, wind or a cold day outside.
Can I use it for a serious illness?
It is better not to. The phrase sounds light, so use plain words such as “very ill” when the problem is serious.
Sources and dates
- EasySay's own writing for the idioms, EasySay. Licence: original writing for EasySay. Checked .
- Cambridge Dictionary: usage labels, Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Licence: our own words, from the facts in the source. Checked .
- Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English: usage labels, Pearson Education. Licence: our own words, from the facts in the source. Checked .
Cite this page
EasySay. "Under the weather". https://easysay.org/idioms/under-the-weather. Last updated 23 October 2026.
https://easysay.org/idioms/under-the-weather