sick1 adjectivesick2 nounsick3 verb
sicksick1 /sɪk/ ●●● S1 W3 adjective 
WORD ORIGINsick1
Origin:
Old English seocEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Gary phoned to say that he's off sick today.
- Grant Hill played despite being sick with the flu for the past ten days.
- I'm sorry I didn't reply to your e-mail. I was in bed sick for a couple of days.
- Is this somebody's idea of a sick joke?
- One of the suspect's neighbors described him as "a very sick man."
- Sheila spent months looking after her sick mother.
- We were dirty, hungry, cold and sick with exhaustion.
- Where's Mary today? I hope she's not sick again.
- But they also can't develop if people are sick and illiterate.
- I get travel sick, anyway.
- I was very sick for twenty-four hours, and Michael was coping with everything.
- Miguel was sick of being part of a machine that was eating up the city and spitting out the bones.
- Nall should have kept bringing the time down herself, but she got sick.
- So the family rule about illness, as Carrie Semple experienced it, was that the best child was a sick child.
THESAURUS
[not before noun] especially British English suffering from a disease or not feeling well: · Her mother is seriously ill in hospital.· I woke up feeling really ill.
especially American English ill: · She’s been sick with the flu.· a sick child· Dan got sick on vacation.
[not before noun] ill, but not seriously ill: · Sarah’s not very well – she has a throat infection.
[not before noun] formal ill: · The singer had been unwell for some time.· Symptoms include fever, aching muscles, and feeling generally unwell.
[not before noun] BrE spoken ill: · Your grandmother’s been very poorly lately.
[not before noun] very ill because of a serious injury or disease: · You’d better call an ambulance – she looks like she’s in a bad way.
British English, be out sick American English to be not at work because of an illness: · Two teachers were off sick yesterday.
Longman Language Activatorill especially British suffering from bad health or not feeling well: · Mel was so ill that she had to stay in bed for a month.seriously ill (=very ill): · Apparently Don's wife is seriously ill, and they think it might be cancer.critically ill (=extremely ill): · The baby caught a virus and became critically ill.terminally ill (=so ill that you are going to die): · psychological support for terminally ill patientsmentally ill (=suffering from a mental illness): · Mentally ill patients have the same rights as anyone else.lie ill (=be ill in bed): · All that week, Catherine lay ill, drifting in and out of consciousness.
especially American ill: · Where's Mary today? I hope she's not sick again.· Sheila spent months looking after her sick mother.be off sick (=not at work or school because of illness): · Gary phoned to say that he's off sick today.be off work sick/be in bed sick: · I'm sorry I didn't reply to your e-mail. I was in bed sick for a couple of days.sick with the flu/a virus etc (=ill as a result of flu etc): · Grant Hill played despite being sick with the flu for the past ten days.be sick with worry/fear/exhaustion etc (=so worried etc that you feel sick): · We were dirty, hungry, cold and sick with exhaustion.
especially spoken to be ill, but not seriously ill: · Sarah's not very well - she's got a throat infection.· Jed's Mum says he's not well, so he's staying at home today.
formal ill: · Mrs Hedges is unwell today, so her class will be taken by Mr Collier.· Tom had been unwell for some time but had refused to see a doctor.
British informal ill: · Dad was always out, Mum was often poorly, and I had to look after the rest of the kids.· "I'm afraid your grandmother's very poorly," the nurse on duty said.
informal to be very ill, especially as a result of a serious injury or disease: · You'd better get an ambulance - she's in a pretty bad way.· Martin came back from Africa with malaria, and he was in a pretty bad way for months.
British /death warmed over American spoken to look ill and pale, especially because you did not get enough sleep or are suffering for the effects of too much alcohol: · Kate didn't sleep a wink last night. She looks like death warmed up.· Boy, you look like death warmed over this morning!
slightly ill informal slightly ill: · I hear you've been a bit under the weather. Are you feeling better now?· Mike's feeling a little under the weather so he couldn't come tonight.
British slightly ill: · I'm fine, thank you, but Elinor's a bit off colour at the moment.· Bruce went to the doctor, feeling a little off colour, and was told that he had anaemia.
feeling slightly ill and tired all the time, for example because you have been working too hard, not eating well etc: · You're run down -- you need a vacation.· A lot of people feel run down in the winter months, when the days are short and there's very little sunlight.
when someone is often ill a sickly child is often ill: · He was a sickly child with a bad chest and a permanent cough.· Louise, who was often sickly, couldn't join in the other children's games.
formal unhealthy and weak and likely to become ill easily: · Clare was more active than her brother, who had always been a delicate child.· Mr Humphreys' wife was delicate - the doctor was called in once or twice a week.
fairly ill all the time or over a long period of time, and generally not strong and healthy: · When he left Trinidad he was already over 60, frail, and in poor health.
formal not healthy or strong, especially because of old age: · She lives with her grandmother who is elderly and infirm.the infirm (=people who are infirm): · The "Meals on Wheels' service delivers food to the old and infirm.
likely to become ill or to get a particular illness: · As a child she had always been prone to allergies.· The disease had left her weak and prone to all kinds of infections.
someone who imagines they are ill someone who often thinks that they are ill when they are not and worries too much about their health: · Don't be such a hypochondriac - it's only a cold!· She's a bit of a hypochondriac - always looking up her minor illnesses in a medical book.
to feel ill British /feel sick American · "Do you feel ill, darling?'' asked Rosie anxiously.· I was feeling ill, so I went home.· Mark said he felt sick, so I've made an appointment with the doctor.
also not feel too good, also not feel good American informal to feel slightly ill: · If you don't feel well the best thing to do is to stay in bed.· "I don't feel very well,'' said Jamie, suddenly going very pale.· Ben's not feeling good this morning. I think it's something he ate.· No, I don't think I'll be coming out tonight. I'm not feeling too good.
spoken informal to feel slightly ill - use this especially when you do not know what is wrong with you: · I felt a bit funny and dizzy, and then the next thing I knew I was lying on the floor.
British spoken to feel ill: · Don't get up if you're feeling rough - I'll bring you some breakfast in bed.· Liz said she was feeling pretty rough yesterday -- I don't think she'll come to work today.
British /feel sick to your stomach American to feel as if you are going to vomit (=bring food up from your stomach): · We'd only been in the car two minutes when David said he felt sick.· When I was pregnant, the smell of coffee made me feel sick to my stomach.
informal feeling weak and tired as a result of illness or drugs: · You shouldn't drive after taking these pills. They're likely to make you feel groggy.groggy from: · I went to see Sally in hospital, but she was still groggy from the anaesthetic.
to feel very weak and as if you are going to become unconscious: · It was a very hot day, and I suddenly felt faint and sick.· If at any time you feel faint or nauseous, stop taking the tablets.
to become ill British /get/become sick American · It's horrible when you get ill on holiday.· If you take vitamin C every day, it helps to stop you getting sick.· My father first became ill when I was 12, and died a few months later.· People were scared of becoming sick because they couldn't pay the doctor's bills.
also fall sick American to become ill, especially with a long or serious illness: · If you live alone, you often wonder who would look after you if you fell ill.· New Year's Eve revellers fell sick after drinking an orange liquid at a downtown 'rave' party.fall ill with: · It was the first time the president had been back to his office since falling ill with pneumonia in January.
especially British, written to suddenly or unexpectedly become ill: · I heard that her sister had been taken ill and rushed to hospital.be taken ill with: · The band cut short their tour after singer Robert Smith was taken ill with severe stomach pains.
someone who is ill someone who is ill and is being looked after by a doctor, nurse etc: · St Dominic's Hospital treats about 10,000 patients a year.cancer/leukemia/AIDS etc patients: · He gave a half million pound donation towards the care of AIDs patients.patients with cancer/aids/leukemia etc: · Clinical trials show that some patients with breast cancer do better if they take the drug for five years after surgery.
someone who has a particular illness or who often has a particular illness: · Lupus is a disease of the immune system and nine out of ten sufferers are women.hay fever/asthma/cancer etc sufferer: · The health centre runs a support group for Parkinson's disease sufferers.· Summer can be a nightmare for hay fever sufferers.sufferer from hay fever/asthma/cancer etc: · Many sufferers from depression struggle on for years before seeking help.
someone who is permanently ill and needs to be looked after, especially if they have to stay in bed: · My father's an invalid, and needs constant care.somebody's invalid wife/son etc: · Barbara decided to move her invalid mother to Mississippi, so that she could look after her herself.
people who are ill and need to be helped or treated: · At that time there were no state benefits for the old and the sick.· terrible wartime photographs of the sick and the dying
to vomit also be sick British bring food or drink up from your stomach out through your mouth because you are ill, drunk, shocked etc: · Keith's had a particularly nasty form of the illness - he's even been throwing up with it.· One of my worst memories is of being sick in school assembly.· Just thinking about it makes me want to throw up.· The dog's been sick all over the carpet.throw something up: · I tried giving him some cool, boiled water, but he even threw that up.
to bring food or drink up from your stomach out through your mouth - used especially in medical contexts: · If she starts vomiting, contact the doctor immediately.
/barf American informal to bring food or drink up from your stomach out through your mouth because you are ill, drunk etc: · It smells like someone puked in here.· I could barely stand up without barfing.
to bring food or drink up from your stomach out through your mouth, especially just after eating or drinking: bring up something: · It is quite normal for your baby to bring up some milk after feeding.bring something/it up: · 'Did you try giving him steamed fish?' 'Yes, but he brought it all up again.'
if birds or animals regurgitate something they have just eaten, they bring it up through their mouth, for example in order to feed it to their young: · The chicks will feed on the partially-digested food regurgitated by the parent.
if you retch or heave , your stomach muscles move in an uncontrollable way as though you are going to vomit: · He was doubled over in pain, gasping and retching as if his insides were on fire.· The stench from the bed was enough to make Detective Saunders heave.
if you gag , your throat moves as though you are going to vomit, especially because you have tasted or smelled something very unpleasant: · I could hardly eat the fish without gagging.gag at/on: · Janir took a sip of the medicine and gagged at the vile taste.· Joe gagged on his first cigarette, red-faced and choking.
when you think you are going to vomit also feel sick to your stomach American to have the feeling that you are going to vomit: · If you feel sick, there's the bowl, okay?· I had no urge to smoke when I was pregnant. It made me feel sick to my stomach.· He developed a severe headache and felt very sick by day three.
to have the sick feeling you get in your stomach and head when you think you are going to vomit: · He felt queasy as soon as the boat started to move.· Just the thought of all that food's made me feel quite queasy.
the feeling that you have when you think you are going to vomit - used especially in medical contexts: · Cancer drugs often have unpleasant side effects, such as nausea and loss of hair.· Nausea swept over me as I looked at the body of the dead boy.
also be going to be sick British if you feel that you are going to throw up or you are going to be sick , you feel that you are going to vomit very soon: · "I think I'm going to be sick,'' said a small voice from the back of the classroom.· You look very pale -- you're not going to throw up are you?
the physical condition of being sick · Symptoms include dizziness, vomiting and headache.· Persistent vomiting can lead to dehydration.
a feeling of sickness that some women have when they are expecting a baby: · Morning sickness usually disappears after the third month of pregnancy.
to make someone angry also make somebody mad especially American · Sophie tried not to do anything that would make Henry angry. · It always makes me mad when people drive up behind me and start flashing their lights.
to make someone fairly angry: · The only reason she went out with Charles was to annoy her parents.· Jane's constant chatter was beginning to annoy me.· Are you doing that just to annoy me?it annoys somebody that/when: · It annoys me that Kim never returns the books she borrows.I find it annoying when...: · I find it annoying when people eat smelly foods on public transport.
to keep annoying someone: · That silly smile of hers always irritated me.· After a while, the loud ticking of the clock began to irritate me.· Jean Paul's attempts to apologize just irritated me even more.
also tick somebody off American informal an impolite expression meaning to annoy someone: · Shut up, Bernie, before you really start to piss me off.it pisses somebody off the way: · Doesn't it piss you off the way your husband sits in front of the TV every night while you cook dinner?
to make someone very angry especially by doing something that they cannot control or change: · Her racist attitudes infuriated her co-workers.· Kramer's stubborn refusal to answer any questions infuriated the officers.
formal to make someone angry: · The police department's handling of the affair has angered many in the community.· The decision to again allow logging in the area angered environmentalists.
informal if something bugs you, it annoys you because it is always there or is always happening, so that you cannot stop thinking about it or noticing it: · It really bugs me when I can't remember someone's name.· You know what bugs me? Getting a call from a telephone salesman right when I sit down to dinner.
if someone or something gets on your nerves , they annoy you, especially by continually saying or doing something that you do not like: · The noise from the apartment upstairs was beginning to get on my nerves.· I hope Emma isn't going to be there - she really gets on my nerves.
spoken informal use this to say that something makes you very angry, especially an unfair situation: · It makes me sick, the way they treat old people here.
British /be like waving a red rag in front of a bull American if something is like a red rag to a bull , it will always make a particular person angry: · Whatever you do, don't mention his ex-wife. It's like a red rag to a bull.
to feel worried about something · My husband worries when I'm late home from work.· Don't worry, there's plenty of time.· Mom, stop worrying. I'll be fine.worry (that) · He began to worry he might lose his job.· I was worried that Shannon was too small, but the doctor says she's fine.worry about · I was really worried about it at the time.· I don't know what you're worrying about.
to worry a lot about something, especially something that is not very serious: · She worries and frets all the time -- I think it's because she's got no one to talk to about her problems.fret about/over: · I'd sit in meetings, fretting about what was happening at home.· There's no point in fretting over it now.fret that: · Opponents fret that the system might not provide enough help in times of rural economic crisis.
to keep thinking about and worrying about a problem for a long time after it has happened: · There's no point in brooding -- forget about her.· Dad alternately brooded and raged, and Mum wasn't much better.brood about/over/on: · Don't sit at home brooding about how badly you've been treated.· Achilles sits in his tent, brooding over the wrongs done to him.
to be very worried and upset about something: · Where were you last night? I was worried sick.be worried sick about: · She's worried sick about the possibility of losing her job.· I'm worried sick about Sandy. I haven't heard from her for days. worry yourself sick: · Jenny had worried herself sick trying to think of a way to pay back the money.
extremely worried and frightened about a situation and unable to think or behave calmly: · Inspector Grimes was used to dealing with frantic parents.get/grow/become frantic: · The knocking on the door and shouts became frantic.· There is still no news of the missing child and her parents are getting frantic.· The dog's barking grew frantic as I approached.frantic with worry/fear: · Her eyes were frantic with fear, and she couldn't keep still.
to be very worried about a problem, especially something that has been happening for a long time that you feel you cannot deal with any longer: · I don't know what I can do to keep our marriage together -- I'm at my wits' end!· It was two days before the baby was due, and Robert was at his wits' end.
to be worried that something you are going to do might be morally wrong: · Few so-called animal lovers have qualms when they purchase meat from supermarkets.· Despite my qualms, I accepted the job.have qualms about: · Shareholders seem to have few qualms about companies sponsoring overseas abortion programs.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYverbs
Madge had become heartily sick of the city. She phoned in sick (=telephoned to say that she was ill and could not come to work). He rang in sick (=telephoned to say he was ill) every morning for a week. For the last month, she has been signed off sick from work. He rushed to the bathroom, where he was violently sick.
(=become ill)· The boy got sick, and he just got worse and worse.
formal (=become ill, especially with something serious or that will last a long time)· He fell sick and died within a matter of weeks.
British English, be out sick American English (=be away from work or school because you are ill)· Half my staff were off sick.
(=phone to say you are not coming in to work because you are ill)· I could have called in sick, but I knew you needed this report.
sick + NOUN (=time that you can stay away from work because you are ill)· He returned to duty after two months’ sick leave.
(=money paid to an employee who is too ill to work)· Only full-time employees got sick pay.
(=the bed where a sick person is lying)· He left his sick bed to play in the game.
(=the room where a sick person is)· She had spent the last hour in her mother’s sick room.
(=a room where there are beds for people who are sick, for example on a ship or in a school)· I was confined to the ship's sick bay until we arrived back in Liverpool.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES (=to feel very unhappy)· He was too sick at heart to know what to say.
Madge had become heartily sick of the city.· Sick infants are treated in the intensive care nursery.
(=very unkind)· When I heard he had cancer, at first I thought it was some kind of sick joke.
(also medical leave American English) (=time that you are allowed away from work because you are ill)· The form must be filled in as soon as you return from sick leave.
(=pay when you are ill)· As a self-employed person, you get no sick pay or benefits.
She phoned in sick (=telephoned to say that she was ill and could not come to work).· The thought made her feel physically ill.
He rang in sick (=telephoned to say he was ill) every morning for a week. For the last month, she has been signed off sick from work. He rushed to the bathroom, where he was violently sick. (=extremely worried)· Where have you been? We’ve been worried sick!
· The girl's mother was sick with worry over her missing daughter.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· In fact, the dividing lines were often difficult to draw between those formally described as sick and those described as early-retired.· You look as sick as I feel.· He is not as sick as he thinks he is.· Homosexuality aroused revulsion in about a quarter of the respondents, another quarter seeing it as sick, odd or ridiculous.· But not as sick as Vicky, who every morning now staggered up to retch helplessly into the slop bucket.· Other voters are as sick of the situation as Dmitri is.· Peter Beardsley International Football As sick as a parrot.
· It was criticised as apparently unequal to all the needs of chronically sick children and helpless geriatrics.· Private insurance schemes clearly do not wish to become involved with either the mentally ill or the chronically sick.· For a widow or for a chronically sick parent with three children, the total loss is almost £20 or £1,030 perannum.· Two members lived in local authority homes and 15 in households characterised by unemployment and chronically sick and/or lone parents.· Elderly people and chronically sick people in residential and nursing homes will not be the only ones to benefit.· It has been converted to provide accommodation for up to 60 chronically sick or severely disabled residents.· The unemployed, the poor, the chronically sick and disabled and of course children would need to be covered by public money.· The chronically sick sought him out endlessly for healing from their never-ending weakness.
· It makes you so sick that you lose the baby.· They were young and so sick with the absence of women they had taken to calves.· I have never seen her looking so sick and skinny.· I am so sick of judges writing psalms to arbitration.· She felt so sick that it was lunchtime before she could drag herself out of bed and come downstairs.· After the Stone Roses experience I wasn't going to do anything again, I was so sick of it all.· Is our society really so sick that we call this scientific advance?
· The lifts were for transporting patients too sick to protest to departments on higher floors.· Maybe he thought I was too sick to run.· February Henrietta feeling too sick to remember anything about February.· If some one had a wound, or looked too weak or too sick, they were selected for the gas chamber.· I knew she was unhappy about his going away for a whole weekend when she was too sick to accompany him.· I already called, said you were too sick.· It will not leave me too sick, it will not punish me too much.· I try to ask her, but I feel too sick.
· And soon he had the good news that this tiny refugee was fit enough to continue - though still very sick.· I had the luxury of not being very sick.· Do whatever is necessary to get a very sick young infant seen.· He was always in the cheerful rooms upstairs, where the Sisters kept a constant vigil on premature and very sick children.· The scene in Basic Instinct with Michael was a very weird and very sick sort of love.· Now she is very sick again.· Some children had last-minute treats of ice cream and sweets which made them very sick.· Please, sir, my donkey Violetta is very sick.
· When they leave, Ann is violently sick.· A moment later he turned to his right and was violently sick.· Feeling her stomach churn with the painful memories, she leaned sideways and was violently sick.· I managed to drive out of the hospital but I had to stop the car and was violently sick.· I can cheerfully admit that it made no impact on me apart from an overwhelming urge to be violently sick.· The stench is so powerful that you feel - and sometimes are - violently sick.· In mid-sentence he broke off, turned ghastly pale and rushed to the bathroom, where he was violently sick.· Rex turned away and was violently sick. 11 25.
NOUN· He padded them out with a torn sheet from sick bay to stop them making any noise.· His weight dropped from 145 to 97 pounds, and he had to be placed in the camp sick bay.· He took one from the cupboard in the sick bay.· Go back to the sick bay and tell him to take it out again at once.
· It believes that the economic evidence on the significance of sick building syndrome is of the greatest importance.
· It is a terrible thing to be clung to by a sick child if you are not used to it.· Families told researchers that they had found greater solidarity and amity in their family life now that they had a sick child.· Parents have been promised the right to stay in hospital with their sick children at all times.· His tomb is believed to be a place for healing sick children.· She was turned down on the grounds of lack of experience with sick children.· He was always in the cheerful rooms upstairs, where the Sisters kept a constant vigil on premature and very sick children.· Most of it will be spent providing hospital accommodation for parents who want to stay with their sick children.· A sick child was the first step toward utter family ruin.
· A sick feeling was beginning in the base of her stomach, growing, filling her with blind misery.· Finally, a sick feeling in his belly, as though something there was twisted, pulsing pain. he left the room.· Meryl followed the young detective constable to the library door with a sick feeling in her stomach.· Nina remained on the fringe of the crowd, a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.· Bernice felt a sick feeling begin to develop in her stomach.
· In 1981, you couldn't pass off wearing a swastika as a sick joke.· I thought it was a sick joke, but it wasn't.· Oh, and plantation workers sometimes earn as little as 25 cents a day ... These are sick jokes.· Either way, it was an occasion for black humour, or at least sick jokes.· It sounds like a sick joke but they are deadly serious.
· The woman suffered bruising to the head and body in the impact and went on sick leave from work.· Then they learn that Lincoln employees receive no company-paid dental insurance benefits, no paid holidays, and have no sick leave.· If the technology is not firm-wide train an extra secretary to cover for others who are on holiday or sick leave.· Accumulating days for sick leave proved to be a trap.· Generally a trend of sick leave or requests for transfers by other women who have worked for this person will emerge.· I could take the afternoon off from work as sick leave.· J Nyberg had now returned from sick leave.· It meant giving up the security of my salary, together with sick leave, fringe benefits, and long vacation time.
· A key element of the package was a reduction in guaranteed sick pay.· The terms of any company sick pay scheme also need to be considered.· Kohl wanted to reduce sick pay to 80 percent of wages.· Thus, one could consider such factors as hours, sick pay, pension schemes and holiday entitlements.· Of course, employers' sick pay does not go on indefinitely.· I remember when sick pay and conditions were added and when, under the wages councils, wage rates were raised.· One feature of the absence screens is that sick pay and absence entitlements are displayed.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► be worried sick/be sick with worry► sick as a parrotPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► be sick of/can’t stand/hate the sight of somebody/something
- Gad, I was sick and tired of life.
- I think the archivist who helped me is sick of the sight of me by now.
- I was sick of concealments - those retentions of his.
- I was sick of following baseball through the abbreviated box scores of the international Herald Tribune.
- No one, knowing the Patriarch, could doubt that, after a day of his voice, Zacco was sick of him.
- People were sick of the war.
- We are sick and tired of the proliferation of guns.
- When we first started we were sick of the way many groups would adopt a cool persona for interviews.
- All the cruelty and injustice made her sick at heart.
- But Aeschylus too was sick at heart.
- He struggles against it, he rejects it, he grows sick at heart.
- I was alone, dry of mouth, sick at heart.
- She turned away, feeling sick at heart, even though she knew she should be glad.
- They were sick at heart, weak in the bones.
- I think I'm going to be sick.
- And I was sick just two days ago.
- But Aeschylus too was sick at heart.
- For once, she got to be sick.
- He was sick to his stomach.
- I am sick and weary of all this business.
- If a cat is sick we should always take veterinary advice.
- It was hard to be sick when I was sick, if you know what I mean.
- Teacher Miss - Student Miss Poll's doll was sick, sick, sick.
- He developed a severe headache and felt very sick by day three.
- I felt sick after I ate all that candy.
- I had no urge to smoke when I was pregnant. It made me feel sick to my stomach.
- If you feel sick, there's the bowl, okay?
- We'd only been in the car two minutes when David said he felt sick.
- When I was pregnant, the smell of coffee made me feel sick to my stomach.
- He felt good and then felt sick about the way he had pissed him off on the phone like that.
- He is talking directly to us and we do feel sick.
- I feel sick, and we still have a few minutes left.
- I looked at the picture and felt sick.
- It smears my file, and I feel sick every time I look at it.
- Sometimes after I watch a match, I feel sick because of it.
- We crossed the street, I felt sick.
- When he heard the girls were dead he felt sick.
- He's so cute it makes me sick.
- It's enough to make you sick, the way they treat old people.
- Another helping will make you sick.
- But it made me sick and dizzy, so I didn't take it.
- Finally, the very thought of one more sweet and sticky mouthful would make him sick.
- He said riding in the ambulance made him sick.
- I was too young to exercise my intellectual force to demolish prejudices that made me sick.
- It made you sick to your stomach.
- It was the suspense that was making me sick.
- The shocking stills above are from the 1992 film and show the Ally McBeal star making herself sick after a binge.
- Finally, the very thought of one more sweet and sticky mouthful would make him sick.
- I was too young to exercise my intellectual force to demolish prejudices that made me sick.
- It made him sick to go to Horatia's bed, but he hadn't shirked the task.
- It makes you sick, you know.
- It makes you so sick that you lose the baby.
- Shortly afterwards she made herself sick.
- Still, for a long time, Helen would not, which they both thought would make her sick.
- To be honest, it made me sick to my stomach.
- Accumulating days for sick leave proved to be a trap.
- Generally a trend of sick leave or requests for transfers by other women who have worked for this person will emerge.
- I could take the afternoon off from work as sick leave.
- If the technology is not firm-wide train an extra secretary to cover for others who are on holiday or sick leave.
- Joe and Eileen were given short compassionate leave and Stephen came home for the funeral.
- She was then shown a picture taken at the farewell party at Champion Spark Plugs just before Paula went on maternity leave.
- These work-force-centered benefits helped businesses retain their most valuable employees. Sick leave policies changed.
- When they go on sick leave, their aggregate take-home pay is actually higher than when they are on the job.
- Spurs clearly felt the loss of their big centre-back Guy Butters, who had reported sick on the coach journey to Essex.
- Time allowed 00:20 Read in studio Trade unions at Rover Cars have attacked plans to penalise staff who continually report sick.
- At two years and a half, he was taken ill with pneumonia.
- During the siege of Bristol he was taken ill with the plague and again feared for his life.
- His sister ate one, and was taken ill.
- Several of the team were taken ill.
- Taylor, 47, was taken ill last week while working on his third album in a Florida recording studio.
- Then Mum had cancer and Dad was taken ill at work.
- We were just about to go abroad when our usual nanny was taken ill and was advised not to travel.
- Whilst in Fort William she was taken ill with stomach pains.
WORD FAMILYnounsickthe sicksicknesssickoadjectivesicksickeningsicklyadverbsickeninglysicklyverbsicken
1ill especially American English suffering from a disease or illness: His mother’s very sick. Maria can’t come in today because she’s sick. a sick child a sick animalsick with I have been sick with flu.get sick (=become ill) American English At the last minute, I got sick and couldn’t go.be off sick British English, be out sick American English (=be away from work or school because you are ill) Two of his employees were out sick. I was off sick for four days with the flu.phone/ring/call in sick (=phone to say you are not coming to work because you are ill) He was upset because it was the first day of the sale and Astrid had called in sick. What will happen to the business if you fall sick (=become ill) or die? He took sick (=became ill) and died a week later. Pete’s at home in bed, as sick as a dog (=very sick).► see thesaurus at ill2be sick if you are sick, the food in your stomach comes up through your mouth SYN vomit, throw up: I think I’m going to be sick. He dashed to the bathroom and was sick again. The cat’s been sick on the carpet. You’ll be sick if you eat any more of that chocolate! I was violently sick (=suddenly and severely sick) the last time I ate prawns.3feel sick (also be/feel sick to your stomach American English) to feel as if you are going to vomit: As soon as the ship started moving I began to feel sick.sick with Mary felt sick with fear. She began to shiver, feeling sick to her stomach. Virginia had a sick feeling in her stomach. → carsick, seasick, → travel-sick at travel sickness4make me/you sick spoken a)to make you feel very angry: People like you make me sick! b)to make you feel jealous – used humorously: You make me sick with your ‘expenses paid’ holidays!5make somebody/yourself sick British English a)if something makes you sick, it makes you bring food up from your stomach through your mouth: The smell of blood made him sick. b)if you make yourself sick, you do something to bring food up from your stomach through your mouth: I’ve never been able to make myself sick. You’ll make yourself sick if you eat any more!6be sick (and tired) of (doing) something (also be sick to death of (doing) something) spoken to be angry or bored with something that has been happening for a long time: I’m sick and tired of your excuses. I am sick of working for other people.7be worried sick/be sick with worry to be extremely worried: Why didn’t you tell me you were coming home late? I’ve been worried sick!8strange/cruel a)someone who is sick does things that are strange and cruel, and seems mentally ill: I keep getting obscene phone calls from some sick pervert. You’re sick! a sick mind b)sick stories, jokes etc deal with death and suffering in a cruel or unpleasant way: I don’t want to hear any of your sick jokes, thank you. That’s really sick!9sick at heart literary very unhappy, upset, or disappointed about something: I was sick at heart to think that I would never see the place again.10sick as a parrot British English spoken extremely disappointed – used humorously11[not before noun] British English spoken used by young people to say that something is very impressive and they admire it a lotCOLLOCATIONSverbsget sick (=become ill)· The boy got sick, and he just got worse and worse.fall/take sick formal (=become ill, especially with something serious or that will last a long time)· He fell sick and died within a matter of weeks.be off sick British English, be out sick American English (=be away from work or school because you are ill)· Half my staff were off sick.call/phone/ring in sick (=phone to say you are not coming in to work because you are ill)· I could have called in sick, but I knew you needed this report.sick + NOUNsick leave (=time that you can stay away from work because you are ill)· He returned to duty after two months’ sick leave.sick pay (=money paid to an employee who is too ill to work)· Only full-time employees got sick pay.somebody's sick bed (=the bed where a sick person is lying)· He left his sick bed to play in the game.the sick room (=the room where a sick person is)· She had spent the last hour in her mother’s sick room.the sick bay (=a room where there are beds for people who are sick, for example on a ship or in a school)· I was confined to the ship's sick bay until we arrived back in Liverpool.sick1 adjectivesick2 nounsick3 verb
sicksick2 noun EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- On average, companies lose twelve days per employee per year as a result of sickness.
- They provided hospitality to travellers, and people with property endowed foundations for the care of the old and the sick.
- Under such circumstances it is frequently the sick who are the first to leave.
Longman Language Activatorill
especially British suffering from bad health or not feeling well: · Mel was so ill that she had to stay in bed for a month.seriously ill (=very ill): · Apparently Don's wife is seriously ill, and they think it might be cancer.critically ill (=extremely ill): · The baby caught a virus and became critically ill.terminally ill (=so ill that you are going to die): · psychological support for terminally ill patientsmentally ill (=suffering from a mental illness): · Mentally ill patients have the same rights as anyone else.lie ill (=be ill in bed): · All that week, Catherine lay ill, drifting in and out of consciousness.
especially American ill: · Where's Mary today? I hope she's not sick again.· Sheila spent months looking after her sick mother.be off sick (=not at work or school because of illness): · Gary phoned to say that he's off sick today.be off work sick/be in bed sick: · I'm sorry I didn't reply to your e-mail. I was in bed sick for a couple of days.sick with the flu/a virus etc (=ill as a result of flu etc): · Grant Hill played despite being sick with the flu for the past ten days.be sick with worry/fear/exhaustion etc (=so worried etc that you feel sick): · We were dirty, hungry, cold and sick with exhaustion.
especially spoken to be ill, but not seriously ill: · Sarah's not very well - she's got a throat infection.· Jed's Mum says he's not well, so he's staying at home today.
formal ill: · Mrs Hedges is unwell today, so her class will be taken by Mr Collier.· Tom had been unwell for some time but had refused to see a doctor.
British informal ill: · Dad was always out, Mum was often poorly, and I had to look after the rest of the kids.· "I'm afraid your grandmother's very poorly," the nurse on duty said.
informal to be very ill, especially as a result of a serious injury or disease: · You'd better get an ambulance - she's in a pretty bad way.· Martin came back from Africa with malaria, and he was in a pretty bad way for months.
British /death warmed over American spoken to look ill and pale, especially because you did not get enough sleep or are suffering for the effects of too much alcohol: · Kate didn't sleep a wink last night. She looks like death warmed up.· Boy, you look like death warmed over this morning!
slightly ill informal slightly ill: · I hear you've been a bit under the weather. Are you feeling better now?· Mike's feeling a little under the weather so he couldn't come tonight.
British slightly ill: · I'm fine, thank you, but Elinor's a bit off colour at the moment.· Bruce went to the doctor, feeling a little off colour, and was told that he had anaemia.
feeling slightly ill and tired all the time, for example because you have been working too hard, not eating well etc: · You're run down -- you need a vacation.· A lot of people feel run down in the winter months, when the days are short and there's very little sunlight.
when someone is often ill a sickly child is often ill: · He was a sickly child with a bad chest and a permanent cough.· Louise, who was often sickly, couldn't join in the other children's games.
formal unhealthy and weak and likely to become ill easily: · Clare was more active than her brother, who had always been a delicate child.· Mr Humphreys' wife was delicate - the doctor was called in once or twice a week.
fairly ill all the time or over a long period of time, and generally not strong and healthy: · When he left Trinidad he was already over 60, frail, and in poor health.
formal not healthy or strong, especially because of old age: · She lives with her grandmother who is elderly and infirm.the infirm (=people who are infirm): · The "Meals on Wheels' service delivers food to the old and infirm.
likely to become ill or to get a particular illness: · As a child she had always been prone to allergies.· The disease had left her weak and prone to all kinds of infections.
someone who imagines they are ill someone who often thinks that they are ill when they are not and worries too much about their health: · Don't be such a hypochondriac - it's only a cold!· She's a bit of a hypochondriac - always looking up her minor illnesses in a medical book.
to feel ill British /feel sick American · "Do you feel ill, darling?'' asked Rosie anxiously.· I was feeling ill, so I went home.· Mark said he felt sick, so I've made an appointment with the doctor.
also not feel too good, also not feel good American informal to feel slightly ill: · If you don't feel well the best thing to do is to stay in bed.· "I don't feel very well,'' said Jamie, suddenly going very pale.· Ben's not feeling good this morning. I think it's something he ate.· No, I don't think I'll be coming out tonight. I'm not feeling too good.
spoken informal to feel slightly ill - use this especially when you do not know what is wrong with you: · I felt a bit funny and dizzy, and then the next thing I knew I was lying on the floor.
British spoken to feel ill: · Don't get up if you're feeling rough - I'll bring you some breakfast in bed.· Liz said she was feeling pretty rough yesterday -- I don't think she'll come to work today.
British /feel sick to your stomach American to feel as if you are going to vomit (=bring food up from your stomach): · We'd only been in the car two minutes when David said he felt sick.· When I was pregnant, the smell of coffee made me feel sick to my stomach.
informal feeling weak and tired as a result of illness or drugs: · You shouldn't drive after taking these pills. They're likely to make you feel groggy.groggy from: · I went to see Sally in hospital, but she was still groggy from the anaesthetic.
to feel very weak and as if you are going to become unconscious: · It was a very hot day, and I suddenly felt faint and sick.· If at any time you feel faint or nauseous, stop taking the tablets.
to become ill British /get/become sick American · It's horrible when you get ill on holiday.· If you take vitamin C every day, it helps to stop you getting sick.· My father first became ill when I was 12, and died a few months later.· People were scared of becoming sick because they couldn't pay the doctor's bills.
also fall sick American to become ill, especially with a long or serious illness: · If you live alone, you often wonder who would look after you if you fell ill.· New Year's Eve revellers fell sick after drinking an orange liquid at a downtown 'rave' party.fall ill with: · It was the first time the president had been back to his office since falling ill with pneumonia in January.
especially British, written to suddenly or unexpectedly become ill: · I heard that her sister had been taken ill and rushed to hospital.be taken ill with: · The band cut short their tour after singer Robert Smith was taken ill with severe stomach pains.
someone who is ill someone who is ill and is being looked after by a doctor, nurse etc: · St Dominic's Hospital treats about 10,000 patients a year.cancer/leukemia/AIDS etc patients: · He gave a half million pound donation towards the care of AIDs patients.patients with cancer/aids/leukemia etc: · Clinical trials show that some patients with breast cancer do better if they take the drug for five years after surgery.
someone who has a particular illness or who often has a particular illness: · Lupus is a disease of the immune system and nine out of ten sufferers are women.hay fever/asthma/cancer etc sufferer: · The health centre runs a support group for Parkinson's disease sufferers.· Summer can be a nightmare for hay fever sufferers.sufferer from hay fever/asthma/cancer etc: · Many sufferers from depression struggle on for years before seeking help.
someone who is permanently ill and needs to be looked after, especially if they have to stay in bed: · My father's an invalid, and needs constant care.somebody's invalid wife/son etc: · Barbara decided to move her invalid mother to Mississippi, so that she could look after her herself.
people who are ill and need to be helped or treated: · At that time there were no state benefits for the old and the sick.· terrible wartime photographs of the sick and the dying
to vomit also be sick British bring food or drink up from your stomach out through your mouth because you are ill, drunk, shocked etc: · Keith's had a particularly nasty form of the illness - he's even been throwing up with it.· One of my worst memories is of being sick in school assembly.· Just thinking about it makes me want to throw up.· The dog's been sick all over the carpet.throw something up: · I tried giving him some cool, boiled water, but he even threw that up.
to bring food or drink up from your stomach out through your mouth - used especially in medical contexts: · If she starts vomiting, contact the doctor immediately.
/barf American informal to bring food or drink up from your stomach out through your mouth because you are ill, drunk etc: · It smells like someone puked in here.· I could barely stand up without barfing.
to bring food or drink up from your stomach out through your mouth, especially just after eating or drinking: bring up something: · It is quite normal for your baby to bring up some milk after feeding.bring something/it up: · 'Did you try giving him steamed fish?' 'Yes, but he brought it all up again.'
if birds or animals regurgitate something they have just eaten, they bring it up through their mouth, for example in order to feed it to their young: · The chicks will feed on the partially-digested food regurgitated by the parent.
if you retch or heave , your stomach muscles move in an uncontrollable way as though you are going to vomit: · He was doubled over in pain, gasping and retching as if his insides were on fire.· The stench from the bed was enough to make Detective Saunders heave.
if you gag , your throat moves as though you are going to vomit, especially because you have tasted or smelled something very unpleasant: · I could hardly eat the fish without gagging.gag at/on: · Janir took a sip of the medicine and gagged at the vile taste.· Joe gagged on his first cigarette, red-faced and choking.
when you think you are going to vomit also feel sick to your stomach American to have the feeling that you are going to vomit: · If you feel sick, there's the bowl, okay?· I had no urge to smoke when I was pregnant. It made me feel sick to my stomach.· He developed a severe headache and felt very sick by day three.
to have the sick feeling you get in your stomach and head when you think you are going to vomit: · He felt queasy as soon as the boat started to move.· Just the thought of all that food's made me feel quite queasy.
the feeling that you have when you think you are going to vomit - used especially in medical contexts: · Cancer drugs often have unpleasant side effects, such as nausea and loss of hair.· Nausea swept over me as I looked at the body of the dead boy.
also be going to be sick British if you feel that you are going to throw up or you are going to be sick , you feel that you are going to vomit very soon: · "I think I'm going to be sick,'' said a small voice from the back of the classroom.· You look very pale -- you're not going to throw up are you?
the physical condition of being sick · Symptoms include dizziness, vomiting and headache.· Persistent vomiting can lead to dehydration.
a feeling of sickness that some women have when they are expecting a baby: · Morning sickness usually disappears after the third month of pregnancy.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Madge had become heartily sick of the city. She phoned in sick (=telephoned to say that she was ill and could not come to work). He rang in sick (=telephoned to say he was ill) every morning for a week. For the last month, she has been signed off sick from work. He rushed to the bathroom, where he was violently sick.
(=to feel very unhappy)· He was too sick at heart to know what to say.
Madge had become heartily sick of the city.· Sick infants are treated in the intensive care nursery.
(=very unkind)· When I heard he had cancer, at first I thought it was some kind of sick joke.
(also medical leave American English) (=time that you are allowed away from work because you are ill)· The form must be filled in as soon as you return from sick leave.
(=pay when you are ill)· As a self-employed person, you get no sick pay or benefits.
She phoned in sick (=telephoned to say that she was ill and could not come to work).· The thought made her feel physically ill.
He rang in sick (=telephoned to say he was ill) every morning for a week. For the last month, she has been signed off sick from work. He rushed to the bathroom, where he was violently sick. (=extremely worried)· Where have you been? We’ve been worried sick!
· The girl's mother was sick with worry over her missing daughter.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► be sick of/can’t stand/hate the sight of somebody/something
- At that time there were no state benefits for the old and the sick.
- She devoted herself to the care of the sick and poor.
- terrible wartime photographs of the sick and the dying
- Accumulating days for sick leave proved to be a trap.
- Generally a trend of sick leave or requests for transfers by other women who have worked for this person will emerge.
- I could take the afternoon off from work as sick leave.
- If the technology is not firm-wide train an extra secretary to cover for others who are on holiday or sick leave.
- Joe and Eileen were given short compassionate leave and Stephen came home for the funeral.
- She was then shown a picture taken at the farewell party at Champion Spark Plugs just before Paula went on maternity leave.
- These work-force-centered benefits helped businesses retain their most valuable employees. Sick leave policies changed.
- When they go on sick leave, their aggregate take-home pay is actually higher than when they are on the job.
- Spurs clearly felt the loss of their big centre-back Guy Butters, who had reported sick on the coach journey to Essex.
- Time allowed 00:20 Read in studio Trade unions at Rover Cars have attacked plans to penalise staff who continually report sick.
- At two years and a half, he was taken ill with pneumonia.
- During the siege of Bristol he was taken ill with the plague and again feared for his life.
- His sister ate one, and was taken ill.
- Several of the team were taken ill.
- Taylor, 47, was taken ill last week while working on his third album in a Florida recording studio.
- Then Mum had cancer and Dad was taken ill at work.
- We were just about to go abroad when our usual nanny was taken ill and was advised not to travel.
- Whilst in Fort William she was taken ill with stomach pains.
WORD FAMILYnounsickthe sicksicknesssickoadjectivesicksickeningsicklyadverbsickeninglysicklyverbsicken
1the sick [plural] people who are ill: The sick and wounded were allowed to go free.2[uncountable] British English informal vomit: The phone box smelt of sick.sick1 adjectivesick2 nounsick3 verb
sicksick3 verb VERB TABLE
sick (BrE)
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | sick (BrE) |
| he, she, it | sicks (BrE) | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | sicked (BrE) |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have sicked (BrE) |
| he, she, it | has sicked (BrE) | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had sicked (BrE) |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will sick |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have sicked (BrE) |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am sicking (BrE) |
| he, she, it | is sicking (BrE) | |
| you, we, they | are sicking (BrE) | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was sicking (BrE) |
| you, we, they | were sicking (BrE) | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been sicking (BrE) |
| he, she, it | has been sicking (BrE) | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been sicking (BrE) |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be sicking (BrE) |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been sicking (BrE) |
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Madge had become heartily sick of the city. She phoned in sick (=telephoned to say that she was ill and could not come to work). He rang in sick (=telephoned to say he was ill) every morning for a week. For the last month, she has been signed off sick from work. He rushed to the bathroom, where he was violently sick.
(=to feel very unhappy)· He was too sick at heart to know what to say.
Madge had become heartily sick of the city.· Sick infants are treated in the intensive care nursery.
(=very unkind)· When I heard he had cancer, at first I thought it was some kind of sick joke.
(also medical leave American English) (=time that you are allowed away from work because you are ill)· The form must be filled in as soon as you return from sick leave.
(=pay when you are ill)· As a self-employed person, you get no sick pay or benefits.
She phoned in sick (=telephoned to say that she was ill and could not come to work).· The thought made her feel physically ill.
He rang in sick (=telephoned to say he was ill) every morning for a week. For the last month, she has been signed off sick from work. He rushed to the bathroom, where he was violently sick. (=extremely worried)· Where have you been? We’ve been worried sick!
· The girl's mother was sick with worry over her missing daughter.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► be sick of/can’t stand/hate the sight of somebody/something
sick something ↔ up phrasal verb British English informal to bring up food from your stomach – used especially of children SYN vomit up American English: - Accumulating days for sick leave proved to be a trap.
- Generally a trend of sick leave or requests for transfers by other women who have worked for this person will emerge.
- I could take the afternoon off from work as sick leave.
- If the technology is not firm-wide train an extra secretary to cover for others who are on holiday or sick leave.
- Joe and Eileen were given short compassionate leave and Stephen came home for the funeral.
- She was then shown a picture taken at the farewell party at Champion Spark Plugs just before Paula went on maternity leave.
- These work-force-centered benefits helped businesses retain their most valuable employees. Sick leave policies changed.
- When they go on sick leave, their aggregate take-home pay is actually higher than when they are on the job.
- Spurs clearly felt the loss of their big centre-back Guy Butters, who had reported sick on the coach journey to Essex.
- Time allowed 00:20 Read in studio Trade unions at Rover Cars have attacked plans to penalise staff who continually report sick.
- At two years and a half, he was taken ill with pneumonia.
- During the siege of Bristol he was taken ill with the plague and again feared for his life.
- His sister ate one, and was taken ill.
- Several of the team were taken ill.
- Taylor, 47, was taken ill last week while working on his third album in a Florida recording studio.
- Then Mum had cancer and Dad was taken ill at work.
- We were just about to go abroad when our usual nanny was taken ill and was advised not to travel.
- Whilst in Fort William she was taken ill with stomach pains.
Ruth had frequently sicked up her bottle milk.- American Graffiti
- American Indian
- Americanism
- Americanization
- Americanize
- American League
- American Legion
- americano
- American Psycho
- American Revolutionary War
- American Samoa
- American Way
- Americas
- America's Cup
- America the Beautiful
- Amerindian
- amero
- amethyst
- Amex
- amiability
- amiable
- amiably
- amicable
- amicably
- AMICUS