How do you use "Under the Weather" in a sentence?

I'm feeling a bit under the weather today. She called in sick—said she was under the weather. He's been under the weather since the weekend. I'm a bit under the weather from last night.

Under the Weather

Q: What does "Under the Weather" mean?

Feeling slightly ill or unwell Being 'under the weather' means feeling mildly unwell—not seriously ill, but not quite right either. It's often used for minor ailments, hangovers, or general malaise. The phrase suggests being oppressed by conditions beyond your control.

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Casual

Meaning: Feeling slightly ill or unwell

感觉有点不舒服

Sentirse un poco enfermo o indispuesto

少し体調が悪い

몸이 좋지 않은. 종종 숙취를 의미하는.

Being 'under the weather' means feeling mildly unwell—not seriously ill, but not quite right either. It's often used for minor ailments, hangovers, or general malaise. The phrase suggests being oppressed by conditions beyond your control.

身体不适，通常是轻微生病。常用来为不参加活动找借口。

No sentirse bien, normalmente levemente enfermo. Forma común de excusarse de actividades.

体調が良くない、通常は軽い病気。活動を休む際によく使われる言い方。

'under the weather'는 몸이 안 좋다는 뜻의 정중하고 완곡한 표현으로, 특히 숙취를 의미하는 경우가 많다. 모호한 표현이라서 구체적인 이유를 밝히지 않고 사용할 수 있어 편리하다. 원래 항해 용어에서 유래했다.

Literal meaning: Affected by bad weather conditions

Examples

I'm feeling a bit under the weather today.
感觉有点不舒服
Me siento un poco indispuesto
ちょっと体調が悪い
오늘 좀 몸이 안 좋아.
She called in sick—said she was under the weather.
她今天身体不太好
Hoy no se encuentra bien
彼女は今日体調が悪い
그녀가 아프다고 전화했어—몸이 좀 안 좋다고.
He's been under the weather since the weekend.
不舒服，来不了
No me encuentro bien, no puedo ir
体調が悪くて行けない
그는 주말부터 계속 몸이 안 좋다.
I'm a bit under the weather from last night.
整周都不太舒服
He estado indispuesto toda la semana
一週間ずっと体調が悪い
어젯밤 때문에 좀 컨디션이 안 좋아.

Pronunciation

/ˈʌndə ðə ˈweðər/

Usage Guide

Context: illness, work excuses, hangovers

Tone: understated, vague

✓ Do Say

I'm feeling under the weather.
身体不适
Indispuesto
体調が悪い
몸이 좀 안 좋아.
She's a bit under the weather.
感觉不舒服
Sentirse indispuesto
体調が悪い感じ
그녀가 좀 아파.
He's been under the weather.
有点不舒服
Un poco indispuesto
少し体調が悪い
그가 몸이 안 좋았어.

✗ Don't Say

Deliberately vague—good for avoiding details
Euphemistic（委婉说法）
Euphemistic（Eufemístico）
Euphemistic（婉曲的）
의도적으로 모호함——자세한 설명을 피하기에 좋음
Often a euphemism for hangover
Polite understatement（礼貌的轻描淡写）
Polite understatement（Subestimación cortés）
Polite understatement（丁寧な控えめな表現）
숙취의 완곡한 표현으로 자주 쓰임

Common Mistakes

It's for MILD illness—not serious conditions
Often implies you'll recover soon

Origin & History

This nautical phrase originated in the 19th century. On ships, sailors feeling seasick would go below deck to escape the weather and the ship's movement—literally under the weather deck. Being sent below suggested illness or inability to work.

Etymology: Nautical origin: sick sailors sent below the weather deck

First recorded: Early 19th century, nautical slang

Cultural Context

Era: 19th century onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Common workplace euphemism; Often used as tactful excuse

Regional notes: Universal across English-speaking countries.

Story & Trivia

The phrase may also simply reflect the ancient connection between weather and health. Before modern medicine, bad weather was genuinely believed to cause illness—'catching cold' from being in the cold, for instance. Being 'under' the weather meant being oppressed or affected by it.

Variations

Under the weatherA bit under the weather