- Meaning
- This idiom describes feeling unwell, slightly sick, or out of sorts, either physically or emotionally, as if affected by stormy or unfavorable weather conditions. It conveys a mild state of discomfort or low energy, often used in personal, casual, or sympathetic contexts to express being less than one’s best without specifying a serious illness. The phrase carries a tone of empathy, mild concern, or understated complaint, reflecting cultural sensitivity to health and the human experience of temporary malaise. It resonates in everyday conversations about well-being, capturing the ebb of vitality, and its meteorological imagery adds a layer of poetic relatability, evoking the gloom of bad weather. The idiom often invites understanding or leniency, making it a gentle metaphor for acknowledging one’s off days with grace.
- Origin
- The phrase likely originated in 18th-century Britain, rooted in maritime culture where sailors who were ill were sent below deck, away from harsh weather conditions, as noted in ship logs. Its earliest recorded use appears in a 1827 *The Naval Chronicle* article: ‘He’s under the weather, unfit for duty.’ The idiom gained traction in the 19th century, reflecting Britain’s seafaring heritage, as seen in Charles Dickens’ *Bleak House* (1853), which uses it for mild ailments. Its use grew in American English during the 19th century, particularly in coastal and working-class communities, amplified by Mark Twain’s *Huckleberry Finn* (1884), which embraces nautical slang. The phrase’s adoption was fueled by 20th-century media, notably in radio and film like *It’s a Wonderful Life* (1946), which use it for relatable struggles. Its spread to Commonwealth English came through British influence, and its vivid imagery, evoking stormy seas, and its applicability to mild unwellness ensured its enduring use across English-speaking cultures, from sick days to emotional lows.
- Variants
-
- Under the weather
- Feeling under the weather
- A bit under the weather
- Down under the weather
- Examples
-
- I’m under the weather today, so I’ll skip the meeting.
- Feeling under the weather, she stayed home with a cold.
- A bit under the weather, he still managed to finish the report.
- Down under the weather, they canceled their weekend plans.
- Under the weather, I’m just not up for socializing tonight.
- Feeling under the weather, she took a nap to recharge.
|