Health Idioms

• A clean bill of health:
  • Meaning: A report indicating good health or a positive assessment.
    • Sample sentence: After a thorough check-up, the doctor gave him a clean bill of health.
• Back on one’s feet:
  • Meaning: Recovered from an illness or setback.
    • Sample sentence: Despite the flu, she’s determined to be back on her feet and at work next week.
• Catch one’s breath:
  • Meaning: To pause and rest, especially to regain one’s breath after physical exertion.
    • Sample sentence: Climbing the steep hill, he had to stop to catch his breath.
• Down in the dumps:
  • Meaning: Feeling sad or depressed.
    • Sample sentence: After the diagnosis, he’s been a bit down in the dumps, but we’re supporting him.
• Eat like a horse:
  • Meaning: To have a very hearty or voracious appetite.
    • Sample sentence: After the marathon, I can eat like a horse and still feel hungry.
• Fit as a fiddle:
  • Meaning: In excellent physical condition.
    • Sample sentence: Despite his age, he’s fit as a fiddle and can still run marathons.
• Go under the knife:
  • Meaning: To undergo surgery.
    • Sample sentence: She decided to go under the knife to correct her knee injury.
• Hit the hay:
  • Meaning: To go to bed; to go to sleep.
    • Sample sentence: It’s getting late; I think it’s time to hit the hay.
• Jump on the bandwagon:
  • Meaning: To adopt a popular trend or activity.
    • Sample sentence: Many people are jumping on the bandwagon of a healthier lifestyle by practicing mindfulness.
• Keep one’s chin up:
  • Meaning: To stay positive and optimistic in difficult situations.
    • Sample sentence: Despite the challenges, she always manages to keep her chin up.
• Let oneself go:
  • Meaning: To neglect one’s appearance or health.
    • Sample sentence: After the breakup, he let himself go, but now he’s working on self-improvement.
• Mind over matter:
  • Meaning: The power of the mind to influence and overcome physical challenges.
    • Sample sentence: With a positive attitude, she believes in the principle of mind over matter to overcome pain.
• Nip it in the bud:
  • Meaning: To stop a problem or issue before it becomes more serious.
    • Sample sentence: Recognizing the early symptoms, she decided to nip the illness in the bud and see a doctor.
• Off the wagon:
  • Meaning: Resuming an unhealthy behavior, often referring to substance abuse.
    • Sample sentence: After a year of sobriety, he fell off the wagon and started drinking again.
• Put one’s back into it:
  • Meaning: To exert a lot of effort and energy into a task.
    • Sample sentence: We need to put our backs into it to finish the construction project on time.
• Quack doctor:
  • Meaning: A person who pretends to be a doctor but lacks proper qualifications.
    • Sample sentence: Be cautious of quack doctors; always seek medical advice from licensed professionals.
• Run in the family:
  • Meaning: A trait or condition that is common among members of a family.
    • Sample sentence: Diabetes seems to run in the family; several relatives have been diagnosed.
• Step on the scale:
  • Meaning: To weigh oneself, especially using a scale.
    • Sample sentence: She hesitated to step on the scale after indulging in holiday treats.
• Take one’s pulse:
  • Meaning: To measure the heartbeat rate.
    • Sample sentence: The nurse will take your pulse before the doctor examines you.
• Under the weather:
  • Meaning: Feeling unwell or sick.
    • Sample sentence: I won’t be able to make it to work today; I’m a bit under the weather.
• Vegetable state:
  • Meaning: A condition of reduced consciousness or responsiveness.
    • Sample sentence: After the accident, he remained in a vegetable state for weeks before showing signs of improvement.
• Walking on air:
  • Meaning: Feeling extremely happy or elated.
    • Sample sentence: After receiving the good news, she’s been walking on air all day.
• Xerox copy (of someone):
  • Meaning: Resembling someone closely, often used humorously.
    • Sample sentence: The little girl is a xerox copy of her grandmother when she was her age.
• You are what you eat:
  • Meaning: Your health and well-being are influenced by your dietary choices.
    • Sample sentence: Remember, you are what you eat, so choose nutritious foods for better health.
• Zero in on:
  • Meaning: To focus or concentrate on something.
    • Sample sentence: The doctor will zero in on the cause of your symptoms through a series of tests.