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under the weather: meaning and everyday use
What does 'under the weather' mean?
'Under the weather' means feeling mildly unwell or tired, usually because of a temporary illness. For example, 'I feel under the weather, so I’m taking the evening off.' Use the phrase in casual conversations or messages, not for a serious medical problem or formal medical report. It describes your physical condition, not the weather outside.
ポイント
- Use 'under the weather' for mild, temporary illness or tiredness.
- Put it after a form of 'be', 'feel' or 'sound'.
- Keep all four words together in the fixed expression.
- The phrase suits casual chats and messages, not formal medical reports.
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理解
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詳しい説明
Under the weather means feeling slightly unwell, sick, or tired. It usually describes a temporary, minor illness like a cold rather than a serious medical emergency. The phrase refers to your physical condition, not the climate or rain outside.
David is feeling under the weather today, so he stayed in bed.
この表現を使う理由： Feeling under the weather explains why David stayed home without giving private medical details.
ほかの例を2件見る
-
I was a bit under the weather yesterday, but I feel much better this morning.
A bit softens the phrase and shows that the illness was minor and short.
-
Maria has been under the weather since Tuesday, so we sent her some soup.
Has been connects the start of her mild illness to the present time.
基本から解説を読む
Describe a mild illness without listing symptoms
When you wake up with a sore throat or a light headache, you often want to explain why you cannot attend a social event. You do not need to give personal details about your temperature or medicine. The phrase under the weather tells the listener that your body needs quiet rest today. It keeps your message simple, clear, and polite.
-
I cannot attend the dinner tonight because I am under the weather.
この表現を使う理由： The speaker explains the absence politely without listing symptoms.
自分で試す
When is it appropriate to use under the weather?
答え： When you have a minor cold or low energy
答えを見る
答え： When you have a minor cold or low energy
The idiom describes mild, temporary illnesses rather than serious injuries or literal weather conditions.
Pair the idiom with forms of be
To build a complete sentence, place the idiom directly after a form of the verb be. Use am, is, or are for today, and was or were for past days. The verb changes to match the time and person, but the words under the weather stay together in that exact order.
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Elena was under the weather on Monday, so her brother cooked dinner.
この表現を使う理由： Was shows that the mild illness happened in the past.
Keep your eyes peeled: meaning and everyday useとA dime a dozen: meaning and everyday useでこれをもう一度練習できます。
自分で試す
Which sentence uses the correct verb form for today?
答え： He is under the weather today.
答えを見る
答え： He is under the weather today.
The idiom needs a linking verb like is to form a correct predicate.
Use feel and sound to express observations
Besides the verb be, verbs of perception work naturally with this expression. You can say that you feel under the weather when you notice your own tiredness. When talking to someone on the telephone whose voice seems weak, you can say that they sound under the weather. These verbs describe your direct observations gently.
-
You sound under the weather on the phone, so please take a nap.
この表現を使う理由： Sound indicates that the speaker noticed a weak or tired voice.
自分で試す
Why would you tell a friend, 'You sound under the weather'?
答え： Their voice sounds tired or congested during a phone call.
答えを見る
答え： Their voice sounds tired or congested during a phone call.
Sound under the weather is a gentle way to notice someone's weak or hoarse voice.
Soften your statement with simple modifiers
Native speakers frequently soften this expression so that it does not sound alarming. Adding a bit, a little, or slightly helps show that the illness is very light. These words assure your listener that you will recover quickly. It also prevents friends or coworkers from worrying unnecessarily about your daily health.
-
I am a little under the weather, but I can still read your email.
この表現を使う理由： A little shows that the condition is mild and not completely disabling.
自分で試す
What is the purpose of adding 'a little' before the idiom?
答え： It emphasizes that the illness is mild and not alarming.
答えを見る
答え： It emphasizes that the illness is mild and not alarming.
Modifiers like a little or a bit reduce the intensity of the statement.
Choose casual and supportive settings
This idiom belongs in friendly chats, casual messages, and routine workplace notes between teammates. It creates a warm tone when you need to cancel a coffee date or skip a team lunch. However, formal medical reports, legal forms, and strict company absence systems require direct terms like sick leave or medical appointment instead.
-
I sent a quick text to my study group because I was under the weather.
この表現を使う理由： The setting is an informal message between study partners.
自分で試す
Where does under the weather fit best?
答え： In an informal note to a teammate canceling lunch
答えを見る
答え： In an informal note to a teammate canceling lunch
The idiom is informal and suits everyday messages rather than formal or legal documents.
Distinguish health from outdoor weather conditions
Even though the phrase contains the word weather, it has nothing to do with the sky outside. You can be under the weather on a warm, sunny morning or during a dry afternoon. Do not replace weather with specific words like rain, storm, or clouds. The four words form a single idiom.
-
It is sunny outside, but Ken feels under the weather and wants to rest.
この表現を使う理由： Ken's physical health is separate from the bright weather in the sky.
自分で試す
Which expression is an incorrect literal substitution?
答え： I am under the rain today.
答えを見る
答え： I am under the rain today.
Replacing weather with rain destroys the idiom and only describes standing outside in water.
Respond with polite empathy and support
When a colleague or friend tells you they are under the weather, keep your answer brief and supportive. A warm sentence like 'I hope you feel better soon' or 'Take some time to rest' is ideal. Avoid demanding details about their symptoms, because the person chose this idiom to keep their illness private.
-
I am sorry to hear you are under the weather, so please rest.
この表現を使う理由： The reply offers sympathy without asking intrusive questions about symptoms.
自分で試す
What is a supportive reply when someone says they are under the weather?
答え： Take care and get some rest today.
答えを見る
答え： Take care and get some rest today.
A brief, supportive wish respects the speaker's privacy while offering kindness.
Avoid common word order and preposition traps
Learners sometimes change prepositions or omit the definite article by mistake. Saying below the weather or under weather sounds unnatural to native speakers. Always keep all four words together: under, the, and weather. Practicing the complete group as one chunk will help you speak smoothly during everyday conversations.
-
She was under the weather all morning, but tea helped.
この表現を使う理由： The full phrase uses under and includes the article the.
自分で試す
Which phrase is grammatically correct in natural English?
答え： under the weather
答えを見る
答え： under the weather
The fixed idiom requires both the preposition under and the definite article the.
よくある間違い
よくある間違いと、その直し方を理由と一緒に確認します。
-
これは違います：
She was below the weather after the journey.こう言いましょう： She was under the weather after the journey.
The fixed idiom uses 'under', not 'below'.
-
これは違います：
I feel under weather this morning.こう言いましょう： I feel under the weather this morning.
The fixed expression includes the article 'the'.
-
これは違います：
They under the weather after the journey.こう言いましょう： They were under the weather after the journey.
The sentence needs a form of 'be' before the idiom.
「under the weather: meaning and everyday use」に関する質問
How is being under the weather different from being sick?
Being sick can refer to any illness, from a mild stomach ache to a serious hospital stay. In contrast, under the weather usually describes a mild, temporary condition like a cold or fatigue. It also sounds softer and less clinical than saying that you are ill.
I am feeling a little under the weather, so I will take an early night.
He was too sick to get out of bed and needed a doctor.
Can under the weather describe feeling sad or depressed?
The idiom primarily refers to physical health, such as a cold, headache, or general lack of energy. While someone who feels unwell might also feel slightly down, English speakers do not use this phrase to describe deep emotional sadness or clinical depression.
She looks under the weather today because her throat hurts.
He felt disappointed about the exam result, but he was physically healthy.
Can I replace under with below or beneath?
No. Idioms are fixed combinations of words. Phrases such as below the weather or beneath the weather do not exist in standard English. You must keep the exact four words under the weather together to be understood by English speakers.
Maya was under the weather during her holiday in Rome.
Tea with honey helps when you are under the weather.
Is this idiom acceptable in a formal job interview?
It is acceptable if you need to explain a hoarse voice or a brief coughing fit during conversation. However, if you need to reschedule an interview before it begins, formal professional language such as an unexpected illness or medical reason sounds more standard and direct.
Excuse my voice today, as I am slightly under the weather.
I must request a new interview date due to an unexpected illness.
最後に確認
これを覚えましょう
Under the weather describes feeling mildly unwell. Use it with be or feel in casual situations. Remember that it describes your body, so clear skies do not change the meaning.
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Leave a 20-30 second voicemail for a friend explaining that you are under the weather, canceling tonight's movie plans, and suggesting meeting over the weekend instead.
次のように始めてみましょう “Hi Alex, I am sorry to say that I feel a bit under the weather tonight…”
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