Phrase Finder

Idioms · 13 entries

Medical

What does "Medical" mean?

1. A misfortune. 2. A serious bone fracture.

A bad break

1. USA 2. UK.

A shot in the arm

USA, initially alluding to a shot of drugs but now used without that connotation.

A taste (or dose) of your own medicine

Aesop.

As high as a kite

1. Britain - 17th century. It probably refers to Red Kites, birds that were common in the UK in the 17th century, rather than children’s kites. 2. USA.

Basket case

USA.

Day surgery

Britain, mid 20th century.

Funny farm

Hair of the dog

England, 16th century.

Knee jerk reaction

Britain, 19th century. Driving from the medical test involving tapping the knee.

The heebie-jeebies

USA, 20th century. The origin isn’t known but heebie-jeebie was formerly the name of a dance.

Uncle Dick

Britain.

Under the weather

You are what you eat

USA, 1920s.

Entry 1

A bad break

Meaning 1. A misfortune. 2. A serious bone fracture.

Usage 1. USA. 2. Widely used.

Example

  • 1. Tony has lost his job, just when he needed the cash to move house. That’s a bad break. 2. Tanya’s leg was crushed when the rock fell on it - a really bad break the doctor said.

Pronunciation

Entry 2

A shot in the arm

Meaning A boost or encouragement.

Usage Worldwide, very commonly used.

Example

  • I was out on my feet after ten miles’ running but seeing the kids cheering me on was a real shot in the arm.

Pronunciation

Entry 3

A taste (or dose) of your own medicine

Meaning Mistreatment you receive in retaliation to that you gave to others.

Usage Widely used.

Example

  • You always made me work on Christmas Day when I was the junior. Now I’m in charge of the holiday rota and you can take a dose of your own medicine.

Pronunciation

Entry 4

As high as a kite

Meaning 1. Very high up in the sky. 2. High on drugs or excitement.

Usage 1. In the UK. 2. Worldwide.

Example

  • 1. The Petronas Tower is as high as a kite. 2. She was ecstatic that she won the gold medal. She was high as a kite afterwards.

Pronunciation

Entry 5

Basket case

Meaning A person or thing that is no longer able to function effectively, either through disability or misfortune.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • The Greek economy took a nosedive after the 2008 world financial meltdown - to the point of becoming a total economic basket case.

Pronunciation

Entry 6

Day surgery

Meaning Minor surgery that does not require the patient to stay in hospital overnight.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • I've got to have a gallstone op - luckily it doesn't take long. It will be a day-surgery job.

Pronunciation

Entry 7

Funny farm

Meaning A mental hospital.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Sadly, Jack was so psychotic they had to take him to the funny farm.

Pronunciation

Entry 8

Hair of the dog

Meaning An alcoholic drink, intended to cure a hangover. It is mistakenly believed that a small measure of the same drink that made a person drunk will sober them up and cure the drinks ill effects. The expression is also used in other contexts, whenever an additional dose of whatever caused a problem is thought to be an appropriate remedy.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • I feel rough. I shouldn't have had those last six tequila slammers last night. Here goes another - maybe it will be the hair of the dog.

Pronunciation

Entry 9

Knee jerk reaction

Meaning A quick and automatic response.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • When Isis bombed Paris the knee-jerk reaction was to bomb them back.

Pronunciation

Entry 10

The heebie-jeebies

Meaning A state of nervous anxiety or fear.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • I didn't like staying in that old house overnight. The creaks and bumps gave me the heebie-jeebies.

Pronunciation

Entry 11

Uncle Dick

Meaning Cockney rhyming slang for sick.

Usage Mostly Britain.

Example

  • Sorry, I won't be into work today. I'll feeling Uncle Dick.

Pronunciation

Entry 12

Under the weather

Meaning Feeling ill.

Example

  • I've had a sore throat all week, now it's turned to a cold. I'm feeling right under the weather.

Pronunciation

Entry 13

You are what you eat

Meaning What you eat affects you health.

Usage Worldwide.

Example

  • Burgers every evening? That's not a good plan - don't you know you are what you eat?

Pronunciation