Under the Weather: Meaning and Origin
Under the weather means feeling slightly ill, tired or not quite yourself. If a colleague says they are under the weather, they probably have a cold, a headache or a bug, nothing serious, but enough to slow them down.
It is one of the most useful idioms in everyday English because it is polite and vague. You can explain why you are staying home without describing your symptoms. Below you will find the precise meaning, how it is used in sick-day messages, the theories about where it comes from, and how Americans, Britons and Australians say the same thing.
Quick answer: “Under the weather” means feeling mildly unwell or a bit off. It is polite, informal to neutral, and perfect for sick-day emails. It is most often linked to sailors and bad weather at sea, but that origin is a theory rather than a proven fact.
On this page
What it means, and what it does not
Mild, not serious
The idiom covers minor illness and general unwellness:
- a cold or sore throat,
- a headache or mild fever,
- tiredness or feeling run down,
- an upset stomach.
It does not suit serious illness or injury. Saying someone in intensive care is "under the weather" would be a jarring understatement.
Polite and vague
Part of its appeal is discretion. It signals "I'm unwell" without inviting questions. That is useful at work, where you may not want to discuss your health, and in social situations where details would be too much information.
Occasional extra meanings
- Hungover: sometimes used humorously or euphemistically. A few of the guests were under the weather on Sunday morning. Older slang dictionaries also recorded it as meaning drunk.
- Low mood: occasionally used for feeling down, though less common and less clear.
Literal vs figurative
Literally, "under the weather" would describe being beneath the sky or exposed to rain and wind. That literal reading is not used in modern English. The figurative sense of feeling ill has completely taken over, perhaps helped by the common association between bad weather and feeling miserable or catching colds.
How to use it
The idiom is usually used after a linking verb:
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| be under the weather | I'm under the weather today. |
| feel under the weather | She's feeling under the weather. |
| a bit / a little / slightly under the weather | I'm a bit under the weather. |
| look under the weather | You look a little under the weather. |
| come down with something + under the weather | I think I'm coming down with something; I feel under the weather. |
Softeners such as a bit, a little and slightly are very common and make the phrase even gentler. In American English, a little under the weather is especially frequent; in British and Australian English, a bit under the weather is the classic form.
It is not normally used before a noun ("an under-the-weather colleague" is possible but rare and informal).
Pronunciation: UN-der thuh WETH-er. The th in weather is voiced, as in this. In non-rhotic British and Australian accents, the final r sounds are dropped: "UN-duh thuh WETH-uh."
Where does it come from?
The honest answer is that the origin is uncertain, but there is one dominant theory and a few supporting ideas.
The nautical theory
The most popular explanation links the phrase to life at sea:
- In rough weather, seasick sailors or passengers might be sent below deck, literally under the weather that was making them ill.
- Another version refers to the weather side or weather bow of a ship, the side exposed to wind and spray. Someone stationed there in a storm would be soaked, cold and miserable.
- A third version, often repeated online, says the full original phrase was "under the weather bow," though there is little evidence for this exact wording.
Why it is plausible: English has many sailing idioms ("on an even keel," "taken aback," "batten down the hatches"), and seasickness is a vivid, relatable kind of feeling ill. The phrase "weather" was also used in specific ways in sailing language.
What is uncertain: The early written records of "under the weather" in the sense of feeling unwell, which go back to at least the early nineteenth century, do not clearly come from nautical contexts. So the sailing story fits nicely but is not proven.
The general weather theory
A simpler idea is that people have long blamed weather for their health. Damp, cold or stormy weather was thought to cause illness, and changes in weather were (and still are) blamed for aches and headaches. Feeling "under" the weather could mean being weighed down or affected by it, much as you might feel "under pressure" or "under strain."
What we can say with confidence
| Claim | Status |
|---|---|
| The idiom means mildly unwell | certain |
| It was in use by the early 1800s | well supported |
| It comes from sailors and seasickness | possible, popular, unproven |
| The original phrase was "under the weather bow" | weak evidence |
| It reflects old beliefs linking weather and health | plausible, hard to prove |
Sick-day messages that use it
Because this phrase is so common in workplace communication, here are realistic examples.
Short email to a manager:
Hi Jordan, I'm feeling under the weather today and won't be in. I'll check email this afternoon in case anything urgent comes up, and I'll update you tomorrow morning. Thanks, Amira
Team chat:
Morning all, a bit under the weather so I'm logging off for the day. Ben has the slides for the 2 p.m. call.
Rescheduling a meeting:
Hi Professor Clarke, I'm a little under the weather and would rather not pass anything on. Could we move Thursday's meeting to next week?
Declining a social plan:
So sorry, I'm under the weather and staying in tonight. Have fun and save me some cake!
These work in the US, UK and Australia without changes, apart from local spelling and sign-off habits.
24 example sentences
Everyday life
- I've been under the weather since the weekend, so I'm taking it easy.
- You look a bit under the weather. Do you want a cup of tea?
- Grandpa's feeling under the weather, so we postponed lunch.
- The kids were under the weather after the school camp in the Blue Mountains.
- My dog seemed under the weather, so we took him to the vet just in case.
- I'm only slightly under the weather; I'll still come to the barbecue.
Workplace
- Daniel is under the weather today, so Priya will run the meeting.
- If you're feeling under the weather, please work from home rather than come in.
- The keynote speaker was under the weather but still gave a great talk in Dallas.
- Email: I'm a little under the weather, so I'll join the call with my camera off.
- Half the London office was under the weather during flu season.
- Our manager told us not to come in when we're under the weather.
School and study
- Ellie missed her exam because she was under the weather and had a doctor's note.
- I was under the weather during finals week, which didn't help.
- Several students in the Leeds residence were under the weather after the first week of term.
- If your child is under the weather, keep them home and let the school office know.
News and formal style
- The prime minister was reported to be under the weather and canceled several engagements.
- The star striker missed training, with the club saying he was under the weather.
- A spokesperson said the singer was feeling under the weather and the concert in Auckland had been postponed.
- Officials said the senator was under the weather but expected back next week.
Chat-style
- Sam: Still on for drinks tonight? Lauren: Sorry, under the weather. Raincheck?
- Mum: How are you feeling? Josh: Bit under the weather, but better than yesterday.
- Aiden: You okay? You sound croaky. Chloe: Just a little under the weather.
- Ruby: Big night last night? Matt: Let's just say I'm under the weather today.
Register and tone
"Under the weather" is informal to neutral and very polite. It is suitable for:
- conversation,
- emails to colleagues, managers and teachers,
- school notes and appointment changes,
- news reports, which often use it when public figures cancel appearances.
In medical, legal or formal HR documents, you would describe the situation more precisely ("unwell," "on sick leave," "ill").
Its tone is gentle and understated. That makes it kind when describing someone else, and modest when describing yourself.
Synonyms and alternatives
| Expression | Meaning | Register | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| unwell | ill | neutral to formal | all |
| a bit off / off color | not well | informal | all; "off colour" in UK/AU spelling |
| out of sorts | unwell or in a bad mood | informal | all, more UK |
| run down | tired and likely to get ill | informal | all |
| coming down with something | starting to get ill | informal | all |
| not feeling great | unwell | informal | all |
| feeling rough | quite unwell | informal | UK/AU |
| crook | ill | informal | Australia (and NZ) |
| poorly | ill | informal | UK |
| sick | ill | neutral | all; in UK can also mean vomiting |
US vs UK vs Australia
The idiom is used in the same way in all three countries, and it is common in each. What differs is the wider vocabulary of feeling ill.
- United States: "Sick" is the default word for any illness ("I'm sick today"). "A little under the weather" is a very common polite version, especially in work emails.
- United Kingdom: British speakers use "ill" or "unwell" more often than "sick," because "sick" can suggest vomiting ("I was sick on the bus"). Poorly is a common, gentle word, especially for children ("He's a bit poorly"). Feeling rough suggests a stronger kind of unwell.
- Australia: Australians often say "crook" ("I'm feeling crook"), a distinctly Australian word, as well as "sick" and "under the weather." Many workplaces use "sickie" informally for a sick day ("taking a sickie"), sometimes with the implication that the person is not really ill.
Spelling note: Americans write off color; Britons and Australians write off colour. Learn more in our guide to colour vs color.
Common mistakes
❌ I'm under the weathers today. ✅ I'm under the weather today. Weather is singular here.
❌ I'm below the weather. ✅ I'm under the weather. The preposition is fixed.
❌ My uncle has been under the weather since his heart attack. ✅ My uncle has been seriously ill since his heart attack. The idiom suggests mild illness.
❌ I'm under the whether. ✅ I'm under the weather. Whether is the conjunction ("whether or not"); weather is rain and sunshine.
❌ She under the weather today. ✅ She's under the weather today. You need the verb be (or feel).
A memory trick
Picture a small gray cloud hanging just over your head, raining only on you. You are literally under your own personal weather. That cloud is a mild, annoying illness, not a hurricane. Small cloud = small illness.
To spell it right, remember: you wear a coat in bad weather. Wear and weather both start with wea, while whether (the "if" word) starts with wh like which and what.
Practice quiz
- I'm feeling a bit under the ___ today, so I'll work from home.
- Which is the best fit for someone with a mild cold? (a) gravely ill (b) under the weather (c) off the charts
- True or false: the sailing origin of the idiom is proven.
- Which word for "ill" is especially Australian? (a) poorly (b) crook (c) peaky
- Correct the error: "She's been under the whether all week."
- Choose the gentlest sick-day email opening: (a) I'm sick. (b) I'm a little under the weather today. (c) I'm dying.
Answers
- weather – the idiom is "under the weather," singular.
- (b) – it describes mild illness.
- False – it is a popular and plausible theory, not proven.
- (b) – "crook" is a classic Australian word for ill.
- She's been under the weather all week. – weather, not whether.
- (b) – it is polite and appropriately vague.
When you are next unwell
Reach for "under the weather" whenever you want to say you are mildly ill without going into detail, especially in work emails and polite messages. Add "a bit" or "a little" to soften it, and save stronger words for serious illness. If you need an idiom for something rare instead, try once in a blue moon; if you are about to face a dreaded task once you recover, there is bite the bullet.
Frequently asked questions
Can I say 'under the weather' in a sick-day email?
Yes, and it is one of the most common ways to do so. It is polite, slightly vague and does not require you to share medical details. A typical message would be: “I'm feeling under the weather today and won't be able to come in. I'll keep an eye on email for anything urgent.”
Does 'under the weather' mean seriously ill?
No. It usually means mildly unwell: a cold, a headache, tiredness or an upset stomach. If someone is in hospital or has a serious illness, saying they are “under the weather” would understate the situation and could sound odd or dismissive.
Can 'under the weather' mean hungover?
Yes, sometimes. In informal speech, people occasionally use it as a polite or humorous euphemism for being hungover, and older dictionaries recorded it as slang for being drunk. Context usually makes this clear, for example “After the office party, half the team was a bit under the weather.”
Is it 'under the weather' or 'under the weathers'?
It is always “under the weather,” singular. “Weathers” is rarely used in modern English except in a few technical or poetic contexts, and never in this idiom.
Does 'under the weather' come from sailors?
That is the most popular theory. It suggests that sailors who felt seasick in stormy conditions went below deck, away from the weather, or that the phrase relates to the weather side of a ship. It is plausible, but the earliest records do not clearly prove a nautical origin, so it should be treated as a likely theory rather than an established fact.
Can 'under the weather' describe feeling sad?
It can, though less commonly. Some speakers use it for feeling low, tired or out of sorts emotionally. However, most people will assume you mean you are physically unwell, so if you mean you are feeling down, it is clearer to say so.