Under the weather

Under the weather is an idiom which describes feeling ill, being a little unwell, hung over from drinking alcohol. Under the weather has its roots in maritime language. When a sailor became ill or seasick, often because of violent weather conditions, that sailor was sent below decks to the most stable part of the ship, which was under the weather rail. The phrase under the weather rail was shortened to the idiom under the weather. The phrase appears in the mid-1800s, and even though travel by ship has waned, the idiom under the weather is still a popular term.

Examples

Temperature swing, sudden rain make kids feel under the weather (The Times of India)

A statement on his Facebook page said the 82-year-old Nelson was feeling ‘under the weather’, just 24 hours before there trio of gigs were due to take place. (The Daily Mail)

Nelson’s set list Saturday was nearly identical, but at that last gig he may have been under the weather, blowing his nose into a towel multiple times, singing some lyrics with indifference and grimacing during sour, clumsy guitar solos — for “Whiskey River” and “Still Is Still Moving to Me” — on his battered, beloved acoustic guitar, Trigger (The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

Rookie defenseman Derek Forbort left the ice early in the morning skate and was said to be under the weather, the team said. (The Los Angeles Times)

While she was unavailable for comment on Thursday — an aide said she was under the weather after the gruelling 11-week campaign — Rempel was not shy during her hour-long Twitter burst. (The Toronto Star)

Ellis was forced to let her rivals go clear feeling slightly under the weather but bravely finished 14th behind club-mate Grace Wills, who had her first Sussex senior top-ten finish with ninth overall and second under-17. (The Chichester Observer)