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I've heard it goes back to old sailor days. When someone was sick, they'd go below deck so they would literally be "under the weather." The deck was even called the weather deck because it had the most exposure to the elements.
This popular phrase for "ill" dates back to 1827. It is commonly believed that bad weather can make you sick.
It is an old sailor phrase. When men were sick, they would rest below deck and thus were literally "under" the weather on deck.
The deck they were under was likely "the weather deck", meaning the most exposed deck on the ship, usually the foredeck (over the seamen's quarters at the front end of the ship) or the quarterdeck
(where the helm was located, high for a good view). Either way, if you needed to be sick, you wouldn't want to "toss your cookies" where the wind could toss them back in your face, nor would anyone with you want you to do so. You'd be firmly told to "under the weather" to be sick.
http://www.idiomsite.com/undertheweather.htm
http://www.goenglish.com/UnderTheWeather.asp
1. Somewhat indisposed; slightly ill.
2. Slang a. Intoxicated; drunk. b. Suffering from a hangover.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/under+the+weather
UNDER THE WEATHER - "Ik Marvel, a pseudonym that resulted from a misprinting of J.K. Marvel, was the pen name of American author Donald Grant Mitchell. In his 'Reveries of a Bachelor' (1850) Ik Marvel is the first to record 'under the weather,' which has been a synonym for everything from 'ill and indisposed' to 'financially embarrassed' and 'drunk,' and has even been a synonym for 'the discomfort accompanying menstruation." From "Encyclopedia of Word and Phrase Origins" by Robert Hendrickson (Facts on File, New York, 1997).
http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/6/messages/274.html
Ailing, ill; also, suffering from a hangover. For example, She said she was under the weather and couldn't make it to the meeting. This expression presumably alludes to the influence of the weather on one's health. [Early 1800s] The same term is sometimes used as a euphemism for being drunk, as in After four drinks, Ellen was a bit under the weather.
http://www.answers.com/under%20the%20weather
I don't know either! There seem to be a lot of sayings that we just don't know why they are popular, isn't it? :)
Maybe coz we feel like we're under a cloud of misery when we feel sick.
we are under and above, but in the middle at the moment
that was a long moment for me wow wow wow
it is whether it makes them feel better or not that we are concerned which is important for them
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You're reading Why do we ask if someone is feeling "under the weather" when they are ill?
Comments
Makes sense. That's the real you, I take it?
by Jodie44 on January 1st, 2008
Wait, just let me check to see if I'm wearing pants. Nope. Yup, it's me;) ahahahahahaha
by gtravels loves her life penguin on January 1st, 2008
Thanks, that sounds like a plausible explanation. I'm glad it's the real you. Fake you isn't a whole lot of laughs. :)
by unknown on January 1st, 2008
Yeah, the fake me sucks alot more than the real me. So to speak;)
by gtravels loves her life penguin on January 1st, 2008
So, did you do anything interesting and socially acceptable for New Years? <tries to change the obvious direction this conversation is taking> :)
by unknown on January 1st, 2008
Whatever do you mean? <tries to remove the detour sign so mind can take its natural course>
by gtravels loves her life penguin on January 1st, 2008
I'm sure Jodie is about to hit the unsubscribe button. lol
by unknown on January 1st, 2008
Uh oh. Caught.
by Jodie44 on January 1st, 2008
Take that cursor off the button right now, missy. You are stuck here until G and I give you permission to leave. :)
by unknown on January 1st, 2008
Ahahahaha.....let's see, how do we turn up the heat?!;)
by gtravels loves her life penguin on January 1st, 2008
I have it on good authority that Jodie has left the building. :)
by unknown on January 1st, 2008
grrrrrr.....hey, as anecdote to yesterday, someone appears to be positrolling me;)
by gtravels loves her life penguin on January 1st, 2008
Well that is funtastical. :)
by unknown on January 1st, 2008
Being me is a continous adventure, I'll tell ya;)
by gtravels loves her life penguin on January 1st, 2008
Of that there can be no doubt. Have you noticed the atmosphere is lighter and breezier lately?
by unknown on January 1st, 2008
Holidays I'd imagine. Good will toward men and all that crap;)
by gtravels loves her life penguin on January 1st, 2008
Yeah, I'm sure you're right. I like it. :)
by unknown on January 1st, 2008
Me too. Things get very depressing after the holidays though. It'll be interesting to see what happens. Of course, those who have something to look forward to on January 7th don't have to worry about that;)
by gtravels loves her life penguin on January 1st, 2008
So true. It almost seems like a dream. I have so much to do but can't seem to get it into my head that It's almost here. lol
by unknown on January 1st, 2008
I'm so happy for you sweetie. How long are you staying?
by gtravels loves her life penguin on January 1st, 2008
A week. I am missing the first day of school. LOL
by unknown on January 1st, 2008
You're a bad girl! I'm sure I won't be the only one saying that!;) ahahahahahaha
by gtravels loves her life penguin on January 1st, 2008
LOL <rolls eyes>
by unknown on January 1st, 2008
I have to get a few of those eye rolls in before you leave, don't I?;)
by gtravels loves her life penguin on January 1st, 2008
Absolutely or you'd miss me too much.
by unknown on January 1st, 2008
Your ego really has come a long way. Hope you can jam it in the door of the plane;) hehehehehe
by gtravels loves her life penguin on January 1st, 2008
It's those teeny seats that you have to be careful with .:)
by unknown on January 1st, 2008
They weren't built for my butt, I'll tell you that. I've asked if I could just sit out on the wing, but they wouldn't let me for some reason;)
by gtravels loves her life penguin on January 1st, 2008
LOL It must be some kind of regulation like the one that wouldn't let me take my face cream on the plane. God knows face cream can really upset the apple cart.
by unknown on January 1st, 2008
They took out my hand cream to look at it, eyed it closely, put it in a ziplock bag and handed it back to me to take on the plane. All of humanity might have been saved with that maneuver!;)
by gtravels loves her life penguin on January 1st, 2008
I know, huh. My moisturizer was fine but the face cream had to go. You know what trouble makers face cream can be. I'm about to turn in. I was up for west coast New Year last night and am tire. See you later. :) {{hugs}}
by unknown on January 1st, 2008
Sweet dreams my friend:) (((hugs)))
by gtravels loves her life penguin on January 1st, 2008
lotus
by technios on June 5th, 2008