Practice
Under the weather: meaning and use in English
Sign in to saveIf you feel a little ill, tired, or not yourself, you can say that you are under the weather. The idiom is about how you feel, not the weather outside.
Understand and use under the weather to say that you feel slightly ill or not at your usual level of health.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
I am a bit under the weather today, so I am going home early. /aɪ əm ə bɪt ˈʌndə ðə ˈweðə təˈdeɪ səʊ aɪ əm ˈɡəʊɪŋ həʊm ˈɜːli/
The short answer
Under the weather means feeling slightly ill or unwell. Use it when you want to describe your condition in an informal, general way.
I am a bit under the weather today, so I am going home early.
Why it works: The speaker says they do not feel well enough to stay for the whole day.
5 more examples
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I am feeling under the weather, so I will join the call tomorrow.
The speaker gives a general reason for resting and postponing the call.
Not this:I am
under the rain, so I will join the call tomorrow. What changes: Under the rain describes a physical location and does not mean that the speaker feels ill. -
Mina has been under the weather since the weekend.
The present perfect links Mina's condition from the weekend until now.
Not this:Mina has been
under the cloudssince the weekend. What changes: This literal phrase does not communicate that Mina feels unwell. -
I was a little under the weather after the long journey.
A little softens the statement and suggests a mild condition.
Not this:I was a little
under the forecastafter the long journey. What changes: Forecast belongs to weather reports and cannot replace the idiom. -
He sounds under the weather today. Perhaps he should rest.
The listener infers that the person does not sound well.
Not this:He sounds
like the weathertoday. Perhaps he should rest. What changes: This does not have the idiomatic meaning of feeling unwell. -
Sorry, I am under the weather and cannot meet for lunch.
The phrase gives a polite, general explanation for changing a casual plan.
Not this:Sorry, I am
below the weatherand cannot meet for lunch. What changes: Below the weather is not the usual idiom.
Read the full guide
Use be under the weather with a person: I am under the weather, or Sam has been under the weather. The expression does not name a specific illness. If you need to explain symptoms, an absence, or medical advice, use clearer and more direct language.
Use it for feeling unwell
Under the weather describes a general feeling of being unwell. It often fits a mild illness, low energy, or a day when your body needs rest. The listener understands that your health is the topic.
I am under the weather this morning, so I will work from home.
The phrase explains how the speaker feels without naming a specific illness.
Build the sentence with be
Use the idiom after am, is, are, was, were, has been, or have been. These verbs carry the tense. Keep under the weather together as one fixed expression.
They have been under the weather for a few days.
Have been shows that the condition began earlier and is still relevant now.
Which part changes when you talk about yesterday: under the weather or the verb before it?
Change the verb before the idiom. Say was under the weather for a completed time in the past.
Choose a suitable situation
The idiom fits an informal message to a friend, classmate, or colleague. It can explain why you are leaving early or changing a social plan. If a manager, school, or doctor needs a specific fact, give the direct information that the situation requires.
I am a bit under the weather, so could we meet later this week?
The phrase is polite because it gives a brief reason without adding unnecessary detail.
Do not read it literally
The weather in this idiom is not rain, sunshine, or temperature. A person can be under the weather on a bright day. Learn the whole phrase instead of trying to translate each word separately.
The sky is clear, but I still feel under the weather.
The clear sky and the speaker's health are separate ideas.
Reply with care
When someone says they are under the weather, a simple caring reply is usually enough. You can say I hope you feel better soon or Take care. Avoid asking for private medical details unless the person wants to share them.
I am sorry you are under the weather. I hope you can rest today.
The reply recognizes the person's condition and offers care without demanding an explanation.
What is a kind reply when someone says they are under the weather?
A short response such as I hope you feel better soon is kind and leaves the person free to share more only if they want to.
Before you go
Remember this
Use under the weather after be to say that someone feels slightly ill or unwell. It is informal and general. The phrase refers to health, not to rain, wind, or a forecast.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Under the weather: meaning and use in English"
What does under the weather mean?
Under the weather means feeling slightly ill, unwell, or not at your usual level of health. It is an informal expression that gives a general description of how someone feels without naming a particular illness.
I am feeling under the weather, so I will join the call tomorrow.
Is under the weather about the weather outside?
No. Under the weather is an idiom about health, not rain, wind, sunshine, or a forecast. A person can say it on any kind of day when they feel unwell or need rest.
I am under the rain, so I will join the call tomorrow.
How do I use under the weather in a sentence?
Use under the weather after a form of be. You can say I am under the weather, she was under the weather, or they have been under the weather. Change the verb to show the time.
Mina has been under the weather since the weekend.
Is under the weather formal or informal?
Under the weather is informal and works well in a friendly conversation or message. It can be fine with a colleague when a general explanation is enough. Use direct, specific language when a formal situation requires details.
Mina has been under the clouds since the weekend.
Can I say a little under the weather?
Yes. A little under the weather is a natural way to show that the condition feels mild. It can make the statement sound less strong while still explaining that you do not feel well.
I was a little under the weather after the long journey.