IDIOMS ABOUT HEALTH

TO BE ALIVE AND KICKING – to continue to exist in a good condition or be still active

This morning was truly beautiful for the first time in six months. As a person who has recovered from a serious illness, now I understand how good it is just to be still alive and kicking.

TO BE AS FIT AS A FIDDLE – to have a very good health

I always thought that I was as fit as a fiddle. But everything changed in an instant.

TO BE AS PALE AS A GHOST (AS DEATH) – to have a very pale unhealthy complexion

No, at first my illness almost didn't manifest itself. It lurked somewhere inside and waited for the right moment to take my life away, drop by drop. The first time I felt that something was wrong was when people began to tell me that I was as pale as a ghost.

TO LOOK GREEN (PALE) AROUND THE GILLS – to look like a sick person

I thought I looked green around the gills because I was really tired. “So, I have a lot of work to do, and a quarrel with my youngest son didn't do me any good too.”

TO BE OUT OF SHAPE – to not be in a good physical condition to perform some activities

The next symptom was a feeling of exhaustion that forced me to quit going to the gym. “Maybe I’m just out of shape, huh? After all, I'm no longer young.”

UNDER THE WEATHER – to feel exhausted, ill or tired

Then it became difficult for me to get up in the morning. Again, I started making excuses for it: “I’m simply feeling under the weather, that's all.”

RUN A FEVER/TEMPERATURE – to be in a condition when the body temperature is abnormally high

My illness felt bolder a month later. One cold winter day, I felt that I was hot. It was odd because I usually felt cold and wrapped myself in a blanket even when I was inside. That evening I ran a fever.

TO CATCH A COLD – to become infected with a cold virus

“Oh my God! I caught a cold! Indeed, this is what I was missing!”

TO TAKE A TURN FOR THE WORSE (BETTER) – to become worse (better)

And so, my health took a turn for the worse, day by day.

TO HAVE ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE – to be in a very bad condition or situation that may soon lead to death

I didn’t even understand how I fainted at work. I woke up in a hospital bed. I felt terrible and couldn't think clearly. The doctor told me then that I had one foot in the grave.

TO BREAK OUT IN A COLD SWEAT – to sweat or feel chill because of deep fear or nervousness

I was so terrified that I broke out in a cold sweat.

TO BE THE PICTURE OF HEALTH – to be the person who looks especially healthy and full of life

For me, for someone who considered himself to be the picture of health, it was like a bolt from the blue.

TO DROP DEAD – to die all of a sudden

I could just drop dead because I didn’t pay attention to the signals my body was sending to me.

TO GO UNDER THE KNIFE – to undergo any kind of surgery, especially the one that requires the use of a scalpel or other medical blades

Because of my imperceptible illness, I had to go under the knife. Several surgeries and a long rehabilitation after, I can finally breathe a sigh of relief. However, this incident made me value my life more and take care of my health.

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