Health is something we all think about. Whether it’s eating well, getting sleep, or avoiding illness, staying healthy matters. People often use special phrases, called idioms, to talk about health in fun or smart ways. These idioms don’t always mean what the words sound like, but they help us understand ideas more clearly.
In this article, you’ll learn some common health idioms. Each one will have a simple meaning and an example to help you see how it’s used. Knowing these can make your reading and speaking more interesting and help you better understand what others are saying. Let’s take a closer look at these useful phrases.
Idioms for Health
1. Fit as a fiddle
Meaning: Very healthy and in good shape
Sample Sentences: My grandpa is 80 but fit as a fiddle. / After resting, I felt fit as a fiddle.
Other Way to Say: Healthy and strong / In top shape
2. Under the weather
Meaning: Feeling sick
Sample Sentences: I didn’t go to school because I was under the weather. / Mom stayed in bed since she was feeling under the weather.
Other Way to Say: Not feeling well / Sick today
3. In the pink
Meaning: In very good health
Sample Sentences: She’s in the pink after her check-up. / After jogging daily, he felt in the pink.
Other Way to Say: Feeling great / Really healthy
4. Alive and kicking
Meaning: Full of energy and doing well
Sample Sentences: Grandma is 90 and still alive and kicking. / The puppy was alive and kicking after the vet visit.
Other Way to Say: Full of life / Energetic
5. Back on your feet
Meaning: Healthy again after being sick
Sample Sentences: After a week, I was back on my feet. / Dad is back on his feet after the flu.
Other Way to Say: Better again / Feeling good now
6. Black and blue
Meaning: Bruised or hurt
Sample Sentences: I fell and my leg was black and blue. / His arm looked black and blue after soccer.
Other Way to Say: Bruised / Sore
7. Fresh as a daisy
Meaning: Feeling rested and healthy
Sample Sentences: After a nap, I felt fresh as a daisy. / She looked fresh as a daisy this morning.
Other Way to Say: Wide awake / Very refreshed
8. Run down
Meaning: Tired and weak
Sample Sentences: I felt run down after a busy week. / He looked run down after staying up late.
Other Way to Say: Really tired / Worn out
9. A clean bill of health
Meaning: Doctor says you’re healthy
Sample Sentences: I got a clean bill of health at my check-up. / The dog was given a clean bill of health.
Other Way to Say: Totally healthy / All clear
10. On the mend
Meaning: Getting better from an illness
Sample Sentences: I was on the mend after two days in bed. / She’s on the mend after her cold.
Other Way to Say: Starting to feel better / Healing
11. Green around the gills
Meaning: Looking sick
Sample Sentences: He looked green around the gills after the ride. / I felt green around the gills from the flu.
Other Way to Say: Looking pale / Feeling queasy
12. Just what the doctor ordered
Meaning: Exactly what was needed to feel better
Sample Sentences: That soup was just what the doctor ordered. / A break was just what the doctor ordered.
Other Way to Say: Perfect fix / Really helpful
13. On your last legs
Meaning: Extremely tired or about to collapse
Sample Sentences: I was on my last legs after gym class. / The bike is on its last legs—it barely works.
Other Way to Say: Almost done / Very tired
14. Full of beans
Meaning: Full of energy
Sample Sentences: The kids were full of beans after lunch. / My brother is full of beans today.
Other Way to Say: Energetic / Very active
15. A picture of health
Meaning: Looking very healthy
Sample Sentences: She’s a picture of health after resting. / He looked like a picture of health at the party.
Other Way to Say: Looks great / Very healthy
16. Look like death warmed over
Meaning: Look very sick or tired
Sample Sentences: He looked like death warmed over this morning. / I felt like death warmed over after staying up all night.
Other Way to Say: Terrible / Really sick
17. Take a turn for the worse
Meaning: Suddenly get sicker
Sample Sentences: His cold took a turn for the worse. / Things took a turn for the worse after dinner.
Other Way to Say: Got worse / Not improving
18. Hang in there
Meaning: Stay strong and don’t give up
Sample Sentences: Hang in there, you’ll feel better soon. / She told me to hang in there during the test.
Other Way to Say: Don’t give up / Stay strong
19. Out of shape
Meaning: Not very healthy or fit
Sample Sentences: I’m out of shape and got tired fast. / He felt out of shape during the run.
Other Way to Say: Not fit / Needs more exercise
20. Up and about
Meaning: Moving around after being sick
Sample Sentences: I was up and about after three days in bed. / She’s up and about and feeling better.
Other Way to Say: Walking again / Active again
21. Take it easy
Meaning: Rest and don’t do too much
Sample Sentences: The doctor said to take it easy this week. / Mom told me to take it easy after my fall.
Other Way to Say: Rest up / Don’t push too hard
22. A shot in the arm
Meaning: Something that makes you feel better quickly
Sample Sentences: The pep talk was a shot in the arm. / Juice was a shot in the arm after the run.
Other Way to Say: Quick boost / Energy pick-me-up
23. A bitter pill
Meaning: Something hard to accept
Sample Sentences: Not making the team was a bitter pill. / Missing my trip was a bitter pill to swallow.
Other Way to Say: Tough news / Sad truth
24. Not feeling yourself
Meaning: Feeling off or sick
Sample Sentences: I’m not feeling myself today. / She stayed home because she wasn’t feeling herself.
Other Way to Say: Off today / Not normal
25. Sick as a dog
Meaning: Very sick
Sample Sentences: I was sick as a dog last night. / He was sick as a dog all weekend.
Other Way to Say: Very ill / Really sick
26. Health nut
Meaning: A person who really cares about being healthy
Sample Sentences: My aunt is a health nut—she eats lots of veggies. / He’s a health nut and runs daily.
Other Way to Say: Very healthy person / Fitness fan
27. Catch your breath
Meaning: Take a short break to rest
Sample Sentences: I had to stop and catch my breath. / Let’s sit and catch our breath before we walk again.
Other Way to Say: Rest a bit / Take a breather
28. Break a sweat
Meaning: Start to work hard or exercise
Sample Sentences: I broke a sweat in gym class. / She didn’t even break a sweat during the run.
Other Way to Say: Start moving / Work out
29. Back in shape
Meaning: Healthy again after being out of shape
Sample Sentences: After swimming for a month, I’m back in shape. / He’s back in shape and runs faster now.
Other Way to Say: Fit again / Healthy again
30. On your toes
Meaning: Staying ready and alert
Sample Sentences: Doctors have to be on their toes. / You need to be on your toes during dodgeball.
Other Way to Say: Alert / Ready for anything
31. Recharge your batteries
Meaning: Get energy back by resting
Sample Sentences: I needed to recharge my batteries after school. / The weekend helped me recharge my batteries.
Other Way to Say: Rest up / Get energy
32. Keep body and soul together
Meaning: Stay alive and healthy
Sample Sentences: We had enough food to keep body and soul together. / The blanket kept body and soul together on the cold night.
Other Way to Say: Stay strong / Get by
33. A breath of fresh air
Meaning: Something that makes you feel better
Sample Sentences: A walk in the park was a breath of fresh air. / Talking with my friend was a breath of fresh air.
Other Way to Say: Nice change / Felt good
34. As pale as a ghost
Meaning: Very pale, usually from sickness
Sample Sentences: He looked as pale as a ghost after the ride. / She was as pale as a ghost from the flu.
Other Way to Say: Really white / Very pale
35. Pull through
Meaning: Get better after being very sick
Sample Sentences: He pulled through after a long illness. / I was so sick, but I pulled through.
Other Way to Say: Got better / Survived
36. Out cold
Meaning: Unconscious or deeply asleep
Sample Sentences: He was out cold after surgery. / I was out cold by 9 p.m. last night.
Other Way to Say: Totally asleep / Knocked out
37. Kick the habit
Meaning: Stop doing something unhealthy
Sample Sentences: He kicked the habit of drinking soda. / She’s trying to kick the habit of biting her nails.
Other Way to Say: Stop a bad habit / Quit doing that
38. Drop like flies
Meaning: Many people getting sick at the same time
Sample Sentences: Kids were dropping like flies with the flu. / Everyone at camp dropped like flies.
Other Way to Say: Many getting sick / All catching it
39. Out of breath
Meaning: Breathing hard after activity
Sample Sentences: I was out of breath after running to the bus. / She got out of breath after jump rope.
Other Way to Say: Breathing fast / Need air
40. Kick the bucket
Meaning: To die (used in a light or silly way)
Sample Sentences: That old plant finally kicked the bucket. / He joked that he’ll kick the bucket eating so much candy.
Other Way to Say: Passed away / Didn’t make it
41. Caught a bug
Meaning: Got a cold or flu
Sample Sentences: I think I caught a bug at school. / She missed class because she caught a bug.
Other Way to Say: Got sick / Feeling sick
42. Build up strength
Meaning: Get stronger again
Sample Sentences: I need to build up strength after the flu. / He’s eating healthy to build up strength.
Other Way to Say: Get strong / Feel better
43. Down for the count
Meaning: Sick and stuck in bed
Sample Sentences: I was down for the count all weekend. / That virus had me down for the count.
Other Way to Say: Totally sick / In bed
44. Break out in a sweat
Meaning: Suddenly start sweating
Sample Sentences: I broke out in a sweat during the test. / She broke out in a sweat while running.
Other Way to Say: Started sweating / Got hot
45. Bounced back
Meaning: Got better quickly
Sample Sentences: He bounced back after the flu fast. / She bounced back the next day.
Other Way to Say: Got well fast / Recovered quickly
46. A shot in the dark
Meaning: A guess at what might help
Sample Sentences: Drinking tea was a shot in the dark, but it helped. / Trying rest was a shot in the dark that worked.
Other Way to Say: A guess / Might work
47. Walk it off
Meaning: Try to feel better by moving
Sample Sentences: He stubbed his toe but tried to walk it off. / I had a cramp and walked it off.
Other Way to Say: Shake it off / Keep moving
48. In bad shape
Meaning: In poor health
Sample Sentences: After being sick, he was in bad shape. / My bike is in bad shape too.
Other Way to Say: Not healthy / Doing poorly
49. Take your medicine
Meaning: Do something you don’t like but need to
Sample Sentences: I had to take my medicine and do chores. / He took his medicine and stayed in bed.
Other Way to Say: Do what you must / Face it
50. As weak as a kitten
Meaning: Very weak
Sample Sentences: I felt as weak as a kitten after being sick. / She was as weak as a kitten after the hike.
Other Way to Say: Not strong / Super tired
51. Tough as nails
Meaning: Very strong or hard to break
Sample Sentences: Grandpa is tough as nails. / That kid is tough as nails in football.
Other Way to Say: Really strong / Super brave
52. Bounce off the walls
Meaning: Full of energy (often too much)
Sample Sentences: After cake, he was bouncing off the walls. / The class was bouncing off the walls at recess.
Other Way to Say: Over-energized / Can’t sit still
53. Down in the dumps
Meaning: Feeling sad or low
Sample Sentences: I was down in the dumps with a cold. / She felt down in the dumps after the test.
Other Way to Say: Feeling sad / Not happy
54. Break a bone
Meaning: Literally break a part of your body
Sample Sentences: He broke a bone in his arm. / I never want to break a bone!
Other Way to Say: Hurt badly / Fractured it
55. Get a check-up
Meaning: Visit a doctor for health
Sample Sentences: I got a check-up at the school nurse. / Mom took me to get a check-up.
Other Way to Say: Doctor visit / Health check
Multiple Choice Quiz: Idioms for Health
1. What does “under the weather” mean?
A. Enjoying the rain
B. Feeling sick
C. Staying inside
2. If someone is “fit as a fiddle,” how do they feel?
A. Very healthy
B. Cold and sleepy
C. Hungry
3. What does “catch a bug” mean?
A. Chase an insect
B. Get a small illness
C. Play outside
4. “Back on your feet” means:
A. You stood up after falling
B. You got new shoes
C. You feel better after being sick
5. If someone is “burning up,” what’s happening?
A. They’re outside in the sun
B. They have a fever
C. They’re running fast
6. What does “on the mend” mean?
A. Walking carefully
B. Getting better
C. Going to sleep
7. If someone says, “I need to recharge my batteries,” what do they need?
A. More sleep or rest
B. A charger
C. A snack
8. What does “pale as a ghost” mean?
A. Wearing makeup
B. Scared of the dark
C. Looking very sick or pale
9. When someone “drops like flies,” what does that mean?
A. They are dancing
B. Many people are getting sick
C. People are jumping
10. What does “take a breather” mean?
A. Stop to rest
B. Go outside
C. Drink water
11. What does “health nut” mean?
A. A kind of snack
B. Someone who eats a lot of candy
C. A person who really cares about being healthy
12. If a person is “out of sorts,” how are they feeling?
A. Not feeling well or acting different
B. Sorting papers
C. Being organized
Answer Key
- B. Feeling sick
- A. Very healthy
- B. Get a small illness
- C. You feel better after being sick
- B. They have a fever
- B. Getting better
- A. More sleep or rest
- C. Looking very sick or pale
- B. Many people are getting sick
- A. Stop to rest
- C. A person who really cares about being healthy
- A. Not feeling well or acting different
Scoring Guide
- 12 Correct Answers: Love Idiom Master!
- 8–11 Correct Answers: Well on your way to understanding love idioms.
- 4–7 Correct Answers: Room for improvement, but you’re getting there!
- 0–3 Correct Answers: Let’s explore the world of love idioms together.
Conclusion
Health idioms help us talk about how people feel in a more interesting way. Instead of always saying “I feel sick” or “I’m tired,” these phrases let us express ourselves with more variety.
Now that you’ve learned many health idioms, you can better understand what others mean and even use some in your own speaking and writing. These phrases can make everyday conversations clearer and more fun to follow.
