It’s also possible the original phrase was actually under the weather rail, with the weather rail being a specific location on the ship that was the most stable or spared the most from rocking during turbulent weather. In this instance, though, the authors of the book, Bill Beavis and Richard McCloskey, say that bow was used to describe the side of the ship that bore the brunt of the bad weather. Either way, there’s a strong possibility that sailors and ship passengers going under the deck and thus out of the stormy conditions led to the phrase under the weather and the meaning we most associate with this expression today.Īccording to sources such as the book Salty Dog Talk: The Nautical Origins of Everyday Expressions, it’s possible the phrase originally ended with the term bow––as in, under the weather bow. Perhaps the rocking was less noticeable to these passengers below deck, or perhaps they just retreated there to escape the bad weather in general. Seasickness is typically due to bad weather, which churns up rough waves that cause a ship to rock back and forth. Very often, they felt ill because they were seasick. The story goes that when sailors or other passengers on a ship (traveling by boat was quite popular then) felt sick, they would go below deck to feel better and recover. One theory holds that this phrase has nautical origins, dating back to the early 1800s. The Origins of the Phrase Under the Weather Today we’re all feeling a tad under the weather. We went out to celebrate Tod’s birthday last night and partied a bit too hard, so I had a long, hard, stressful day at work and it has made me feel under the

Mary caught a cold and told me she won’t be able to make it to book club while I need to miss work today, Jim, as I’m feeling under the weather.

Here are some example sentences using the idiomatic phrase under the weather: Often, the phrase is given as a reason or excuse why someone can’t do something. Less commonly, the phrase is used when a person is drunk or experiencing a hangover and feeling the negative effects of being intoxicated. Someone may also use the expression to convey that they’re feeling a little bit down or sad in other words, that they’re feeling mentally unwell but not necessarily physically ill. Typically, someone will use this expression when they’re mildly unwell-such as when they have a cold, allergies, or the flu-and not when they’re suffering from a serious disease. If someone says they’re feeling under the weather, they mean that they’re feeling slightly sick or ill. How is “Under the Weather” typically used?

I am a little under the mweather