illness

an attack of (some illness)

A sudden or acute onset of (an illness). I went to bed early last night after an attack of indigestion. All of the dust in the air produced an attack of asthma. Doctor, what usually produces an attack of epilepsy?

See also: an, attack, of

come down with (something)

To become ill with some illness. Though the specific illness is typically specified after "with," the word "something" is commonly used by itself when referring to an unknown or unspecified illness. I didn't do much this weekend because I came down with a cold. Our goalie came down with the flu and missed the game. I think I'm coming down with something. I feel very weak and feverish.

See also: come, down

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

have an attack of (some illness)

To be stricken by a sudden or acute onset of some kind of illness or its symptoms. Can also be phrased (as in Usage 2) with the name of the illness preceding "attack." I went to bed early last night after having a severe attack of indigestion. He had an asthma attack halfway through the hike. Aunt Nancy's not coming tonight because she's had an attack of diverticulitis.

See also: an, attack, have, of

produce an attack (of some illness)

To trigger a sudden or acute onset of some illness or its symptoms. All of the dust in the air produced an attack of asthma. After living with epilepsy for so long, I've learned to recognize what will produce an attack.

See also: an, attack, produce

shake off

1. To rid or free oneself from someone or something that one finds aggravating, upsetting, or annoying. A noun or pronoun can be used between "shake" and "off." My little brother has been following me around all day. I need to shake him off. He had a hard time shaking off the feeling that someone was spying on him.

2. To shake something in order to get something off of it. A noun or pronoun can be used between "shake" and "off." I had to shake off the old tarp to get the bugs and dirt off of it. Shake the blanket off before you lay it out.

3. To dislodge or get rid of something by shaking. A noun or pronoun can be used between "shake" and "off." He tried to shake the tick off, but it had dug itself into his skin. Don't shake the mud off inside—go out in the back yard and do it!

4. To recover from or fend off a disease or illness, especially a minor one. A noun or pronoun can be used between "shake" and "off." I've got to shake this tummy bug off—I can't afford to be sick before our big meeting! I've had this cold for nearly a week that I just can't seem to shake off! I could feel myself getting sick, but I managed to shake it off.

See also: off, shake

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

suffer an attack of (some illness)

To be stricken by a sudden or acute onset of some kind of illness or its symptoms. I went to bed early last night after suffering a severe attack of indigestion. He suffered an asthma attack halfway through the hike.

See also: an, attack, of, suffer

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

shake a disease or illness off

Fig. [for the body] to fight off a disease or illness. I thought I was catching a cold, but I guess I shook it off. I hope I can shake off this flu pretty soon.

See also: disease, illness, off, shake

shake someone or something off

Fig. to get rid of someone; to get free of someone who is bothering you. Stop bothering me! What do I have to do to shake you off? I wish I could shake off John. He's such a pest!

See also: off, shake

shake something off

to get rid of something that is on one by shaking. (See also shake a disease or illness off.) I tried to shake the spider off. The dog shook off the blanket Billy had put on him.

See also: off, shake

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

shake off

Free oneself or get rid of something or someone, as in I've had a hard time shaking off this cold, or She forged ahead, shaking off all the other runners. It is also put as give someone the shake, as in We managed to give our pursuers the shake. The first term dates from the late 1300s; the slangy variant dates from the second half of the 1800s.

See also: off, shake

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

shake off

v.

1. To shake something so as to dislodge what is on it: We shook off the picnic blanket to get rid of the grasshoppers. I picked up the beach towel and shook it off.

2. To get rid of something by shaking: The dog climbed out of the creek and shook off the water. I shook the snow off my jacket and hung it up.

3. To free oneself of something; get rid of something: We shook off our fear and proceeded into the dark cave. The injured player shook the pain off and continued to play.

See also: off, shake

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.