Medical Idioms

We all get sick from time to time, so it is a good idea to learn some idioms that you may hear on a visit to the doctors or in general conversation; or you may find the idioms useful to use yourself.

Below are some medical idioms along with some example sentences of their use. Can you match them to their meanings? When you are finished, see if you can write some sentences which include the idioms and share them with us.

Lesson by Caroline

Idioms

1. To be on the mend. (She's out of the hospital and on the mend).
2. Out cold. (I hate injections. Last time I had one I was out cold for ages).
3. To feel on top of the world. (I feel on top of the world now thank you doctor).
4. Splitting headache. (I’ve got a splitting headache, I’m going to go and lie down.
5. A flare up. (That rash on my arm has flared up again).
6. Throw up. (My sister threw up after she ate at that seafood restaurant).
7. To run some tests. (We are going to run some tests to find out what is wrong).
8. To feel under the weather. (I've been feeling under the weather since last Tuesday).

What's the correct definition for each idiom below?

• 1. To be on the mend.
  
  To be getting better
  To vomit
  
  
• 2. Out cold.
  
  To check your health
  Unconscious but still breathing
  
  
• 3. To feel on top of the world.
  
  To have a terrible headache
  To feel extremely well
  
  
• 4. Splitting headache.
  
  To be getting better
  To have a terrible headache
  
  
• 5. A flare up.
  
  When an illness or issue begins again suddenly
  To check your health
  
  
• 6. Throw up.
  
  To feel a bit ill in general
  To vomit
  
  
• 7. To run some tests.
  
  To feel extremely well
  To check your health
  
  
• 8. To feel under the weather.
  
  To feel a bit ill in general
  Unconscious but still breathing