under the weather
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
Slightly ill or not feeling well.
Literally: Beneath the weather.
How to use it
✓ Use it when
Politely explaining a minor illness.
✗ Avoid it when
Serious medical situations — it minimizes.
Register: neutralConnotation: mildEra: 19th century – present
Where it’s used:
Used
Widespread English
Examples
I’m feeling a bit under the weather, so I’ll skip dinner tonight.
Editorial example (illustrative, not a corpus attestation)
Sources & notes
Figurative class: Euphemism (PIE-English corpus, CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-31).
Common questions
What does “under the weather” mean?
Slightly ill or not feeling well. Literally: Beneath the weather.
Is “under the weather” formal or informal?
under the weather is generally neutral; connotation: mild.