Idioms

flu

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blue flu

A fictional illness that is said to be affecting police officers when many of them call in sick to disrupt operations, especially where striking is illegal. (The police often wear blue uniforms, hence "blue.") If that many guys called in sick today, I suspect there's a blue flu going around. Ma'am, we're awfully short-staffed today. A number of my men seem to have succumbed to the blue flu. A: "But I thought the officers weren't allowed to strike." B: "They're not, but they can call out sick—hence the 'blue flu' that many of them have suddenly developed."
See also: blue, flu

brown bottle flu

slang A hangover. I'm not surprised you have the brown bottle flu today—do you remember last night at the bar at all? If you drink too much tonight, you'll definitely be contending with the brown bottle flu tomorrow. I got up and sang karaoke last night? Well, no wonder I have the brown bottle flu today!
See also: bottle, brown, flu

diplomatic flu

1. A feigned claim of ill health used as a means of avoiding or absenting oneself from a political engagement of some kind. The senator's conspicuous absence from the debate was put down to the sudden contraction of a virus, but it is likely just a diplomatic flu so that he will not be forced to address recent allegations of tax fraud. Please, if the mayor's "sick," I bet it's just some diplomatic flu to get him out of having to face the angry townspeople. Nobody better come down with a diplomatic flu before we reconvene because we need every vote we can get!
2. By extension, any claim of ill health used as an excuse to avoid an unpleasant or undesirable situation. Frustrated by her dead-end job, Janet contracted a diplomatic flu to takes some time off and reexamine her priorities. A: "Wait, Mike's not here? But I saw him earlier." B: "I guess he contracted some diplomatic flu to get out of stuffing envelopes." The smart people came down with a diplomatic flu to get themselves out of cleaning up after the event!
See also: flu

down with (an illness)

Sick with a particular illness, which is named after "with." I've been down with the flu all week and have barely gotten out of bed. Oh boy, both kids have gone down with the stomach flu? We're doomed. I know my voice sounds terrible, but I'm not down with anything contagious—it's just allergies.
See also: down

struck down with (an illness)

1. Experiencing symptoms of a serious, severe, or otherwise incapacitating illness. Sara sounds really sick. I think she's been struck down by the flu. Being put on a ventilator is a terrifying reality for many people struck down with COVID-19.
2. Killed by such an illness. Back before vaccines, people used to be struck down with illnesses like measles and diphtheria all the time. Were people on the real Oregon Trail regularly struck down by cholera, or do we all just think that because it happened so often in the computer game?
See also: down, struck
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

blue flu

1. n. an imaginary disease afflicting police officers who call in sick during a work stoppage or slowdown. (Journalistic. Occurs where strikes are illegal.) Another epidemic of the blue flu struck the city’s police officers early today.
2. n. a hangover. He was out late last night and has the blue flu.
See also: blue, flu

brown bottle flu

n. a hangover or sickness from drinking. (Probably from beer, which is often sold in brown bottles.) Wayne had a case of the brown bottle flu and didn’t make the meeting.
See also: bottle, brown, flu
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
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References in periodicals archive
* Avoid large crowds if you are sick or there is a local flu outbreak.
Avoid the Flu This Winter: Getting vaccinated is the best way to stay healthy in flu season
Most people with the flu are contagious from one day before symptoms appear until five to seven days after symptoms appear.
Your Best Defense Against the Flu: Getting a flu shot will help protect you, and taking Tamiflu soon after symptoms start can help you feel better
We are even challenging people to put their flu fighting skills and knowledge to the ultimate test with our own interactive game.
YOUR VIEW; Flu campaign lead Lynn Kell at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Treatment for both cold and flu conditions consists of bed rest, liberal fluid intake, and analgesics--such as paracetamol and ibuprofen--and a decongestant to relieve fever, aches and pain, and nasal stuffiness.
There Is No Ongoing Flu Epidemic But Take Precautions
Some symptoms of the flu include high fever, muscle pain, and cough and cold, the DOH said.
DOH warns public against the flu
This means that a person can never develop a permanent immunity to flu. Even if he develops antibodies against a flu virus one year, those antibodies are unlikely to protect him against a new strain of the virus the next year.
Take precautions, It's flu season
"I never get vaccinated, and I never get the flu, so I don't need the shot": You just happened to get lucky.
It's flu season Sick: Do you have a cold or the flu?
The CDC recently estimated that more than 80,000 people died due to flu last year and some of those deaths included otherwise healthy people," said Dr.
It's Not Too Late to be a Flu Fighter -- Free Flu Vaccines at Most Pharmacies or Doctor Offices for Members of the Central California Alliance for Health
Each year, the viruses most likely to cause flu are identified and the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends which type of strains to include in the vaccine.
Everything you need to know about the flu virus; Health experts tell LISA SALMON why now is the time to get a flu vaccinating - and how to avoid catching it in the first place
The drug, known by the name of Xofluza, is expected to be more effective than Tamiflu, an antiviral medicine used to treat the flu today.
A New Medicine For The Flu
Jane Devenish, pharmacist at Well Pharmacy, said: "The only way to catch flu is by being exposed to the flu virus, and the virus peaks in winter.
Sick or myth.. Most home remedies for the cold or flu don't work
The forecasting information aims to help the public better prepare themselves for flu outbreaks, according to the agency.
Taiwan CDC and Acer jointly launch AI-based 'Flu Forecasting Station' website
When you catch the flu, the symptoms appear suddenly.
The Flu and You: Symptoms, Prevention, and Recovery
The FBiH Public Health Institute told FENA that a total of 19,632 people with flu-like symptoms have been recorded in the flu season, eight of which have so far been recorded as deceased.
FBiH records 19.632 persons with flu-like symptoms
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