In English, we often use idioms and expressions to talk about our health and wellbeing. Here you can find examples of some of the most common idioms about health and their meanings.
You might need to talk about someone who is fit and healthy, or whose health is in a bad condition. These health idioms will help you sound like a native English speaker as you do so.
Idioms about health and fitness
First, let’s look at some health idioms you can use to talk about good health, fitness, and wellbeing:
In good shape
If you’re in good shape, you are fit and healthy. This expression especially refers to the physical condition of your body (i.e. being at a healthy weight, not overweight, getting plenty of exercise). We might also talk about getting or staying in shape.
“Katy stays in shape by exercising every day and eating healthy food.”
“You have to work hard to stay in good shape.”
“I want to get in shape before my holiday in August.”
This idiom can also be used to refer to the condition of objects, particularly machines- “My fridge is 10 years old but it’s still in good shape”.
Look the picture of health
To look the picture of health simply means to look very healthy and well.
“Have you done a detox? You look the picture of health!”
Should you say that someone “looks good” or “looks well”? Find out the difference between good and well here.
Fighting fit
If someone is fighting fit, they are fit and healthy, particularly after a period of illness.
“I had to take a few days off work but now I’m fighting fit.”
You may also use this to talk about an elderly person who is particularly fit and energetic for their age.
A clean bill of health
Having a clean bill of health means that you are in good health and there is nothing of concern on a medical report. A doctor may use this expression to say you have fully recovered from an injury or illness.
“I’m happy to report that you have a clean bill of health, Mr. Thomas.”
This is one of many clean idioms that don’t have anything to do with cleaning.
Right as rain
Someone feeling right as rain is feeling perfectly fine and has no significant health issues.
“My father was ill last month but now he’s right as rain.”
“Take this medicine and you’ll feel right as rain in a few days.”
Full of beans
Someone who has a lot of energy might be described as full of beans.
“The children are full of beans today; let’s go to the park so they can run around outside.”
Fit as a fiddle
Fit as a fiddle means ‘in very good health’ and may more often be used to refer to older people.
“My grandmother is 89 but she’s still fit as a fiddle.”
“I know you feel unwell but you’ll be fit as a fiddle tomorrow.”
A fiddle is another word for a violin; a type of musical instrument. It’s thought that the word fiddle was used in this health idiom for its alliteration rather than any particular meaning.
We have some more singing and music idioms on a separate post.
Fresh as a daisy
If you feel fresh as a daisy, you are alert and ready for whatever it is you have to do.
“I always feel fresh as a daisy after my morning run.”
“I don’t understand how some people can wake up feeling fresh as a daisy. I need my coffee first!”
You can find more flower idioms here.
Idioms to talk about bad health
What about if you are not feeling so good; which health idioms are appropriate to use?
Run down
If you’re feeling run down, you are tired and lacking energy, usually after a sustained period without enough rest.
“I’m feeling a bit run down because I’ve been working flat out to meet the project deadline.”
“If you’re feeling run down, it’s time for a holiday.”
Some stress idioms might also be helpful in this situation.
Under the weather
Someone who is feeling under the weather is slightly unwell (but with nothing serious).
“Peter is feeling a bit under the weather so I told him to take the day off work.”
This idiom about health is an old nautical term. A sailor who was feeling unwell would be sent below deck to protect him from bad weather which may make him feel worse. Check out some more idioms about weather in our separate guide.
Off colour
We all feel a bit off-colour sometimes; this is a chiefly British expression and is similar to under the weather.
“Sorry, we can’t make it to your party tonight because James is feeling a little off colour.”
You may feel this way if you have caught a cold. Read about this and other cold idioms in our separate article.
Out of sorts
Out of sorts is similar to off-color. It means you are not feeling quite yourself, although you may not realize exactly what is wrong.
“You look a bit out of sorts today, what’s the matter?”
“I’m feeling out of sorts today. Maybe it’s that curry I had last night.”
You might say that someone is out of sorts if they are not behaving as they usually do, even if it is not necessarily to do with your health.
In bad shape / out of shape
If you describe someone as in bad shape or out of shape, it means that they are not physically fit and probably have an unhealthy lifestyle.
“I’m in such bad shape after all the parties at Christmas; I should join a gym.”
“It’s easy to get out of shape if you don’t eat well.”
You might want to get back into shape if this sounds like you! Christmas is typically a time of over-indulgence, as we know from the Christmas idiom “eat, drink, and be merry”!
Spare tire
A spare tire is a sign that you are out of shape. It refers to an extra roll of flesh around your waist.
“You should join a gym before that spare tyre gets any bigger.”
And yes, you may have more than one spare tire!
Smoke like a chimney
This smoke idiom is another indication that you are not in good health. Someone who smokes a lot of cigarettes could be described as smoking like a chimney, almost as if there is a constant stream of smoke coming from their mouth.
“Unfortunately, cancer is a result of smoking like a chimney your whole life.”
Health idioms to talk about illness/sickness
The following health idioms are appropriate to use when suffering from a particular illness, sickness or health condition.
Come down with something
If you become ill or sick, you can say you have come down with something. You can use this expression to refer to the particular illness, or keep the word ‘something’ if you’re unsure what the problem is.
“I think Annie is coming down with chicken pox.”
“I came down with the flu just before my birthday and it ruined the day.”
“I have been feeling nauseous all day; I must be coming down with something.”
Hard of hearing
A person who has difficulty hearing could be described as hard of hearing.
“You’ll have to speak louder to Grandma; she’s rather hard of hearing.”
It’s a polite way of someone is slightly deaf.
A frog in your throat
If you have a frog in your throat, it means you are having difficulty talking because of a sore throat.
“He was less talkative than normal because he had a frog in his throat.”
Find some more animal idioms used in English.
Blind as a bat
As blind as a bat is an informal and affectionate way to describe someone who is blind or partially-sighted and has trouble seeing.
“I’m blind as a bat unless I wear glasses.”
“Uncle Tim has been blind as a bat for years.”
A bag of bones
Someone who is a bag of bones is unhealthily underweight, possibly malnourished, to the point where their bones are visible through their skin.
“Alice has become a bag of bones since she has been living by herself.”
You may also use this bag idiom in a light-hearted way to say that someone has lost a lot of weight.
Under the knife
This is one of the health idioms which could be taken literally. To go under the knife means to have an operation, usually involving a surgical incision.
“I feel so anxious about going under the knife on Friday.”
You could go under the knife for life-saving surgery or for a cosmetic procedure.
Idioms to talk about recovery from illness
These expressions talk about recovering from an illness or medical procedure and getting back to full health.
Back on your feet
Once you’ve fully recovered from an illness or injury, you are back on your feet.
“It’ll take him about 3 days to get back on his feet after the fall.”
This can also be used to talk about recovery from financial problems (and you can read more finance idioms here).
On the mend
If you’re in the process of recovering, you can say you’re on the mend.
“My daughter fell off her bicycle and grazed her arm but she’s on the mend now.”
On the road to recovery
On the road to recovery has the same meaning as on the mend, but as with back on your feet, it can be used to talk about more than just health problems.
“The doctor said you’re on the road to recovery but you need to keep resting.”
This one also features on our list of driving idioms.
Pull through
If you pull through from an illness or accident, it means you survive and recover. It is often used in a negative sense to talk about death.
“Dylan was very ill for a while but in the end he pulled through.”
“A car crashed into a tree, and sadly the driver was very badly injured and didn’t pull through.”
We generally use pull through in more serious cases of injury or illness. However, it may also be used sarcastically- “My husband has been in bed all day with a cold but I think he’ll pull through.”
Laughter is the best medicine
A little laughter can improve your mood, and perhaps even your physical health. That’s what is meant by laughter is the best medicine – take a positive approach to life and you will feel better mentally and physically.
Idioms to talk about life and death
Because there are so many idioms and expressions about death, we’ve covered these in a separate article. You may also like to check out some life idioms, which are often used alongside discussions about health.
Do you know any other health, fitness, or exercise idioms? If so, please leave a comment below to share them!
