sick (redirected from sick on)

*sick (and tired) of someone or something

Fig. tired of someone or something, especially something that one must do again and again or someone or something that one must deal with repeatedly. (*Typically: be ~; become ~; get ~; grow ~.) I am sick and tired of cleaning up after you. Mary was sick of being stuck in traffic.

*sick as a dog

Cliché very sick; sick and vomiting. (*Also: as ~.) We've never been so ill. The whole family was sick as dogs. Sally was as sick as a dog and couldn't go to the party.

See also: dog

*sick at heart

Fig. distressed and depressed. (*Typically: be ~; become ~; make someone ~.) I became sick at heart just looking at all the homeless children.

See also: heart

call in sick

to call one's place of work to say that one is ill and cannot come to work. (See also report in sick.) Four of our office staff called in sick today. I have to call in sick today.

See also: call

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, and Hope deferred maketh the heart sick.

Prov. If you have to wait a long time for something you want, you will become despairing. (Biblical.) Charlie waited so long for the woman he loved that he decided he didn't want to love anybody. Hope deferred makes the heart sick.

See also: heart, hope, make

I was up all night with a sick friend.

an unlikely, but popular excuse for not being where one was supposed to be the night before. Bill: Where in the world were you last night? Mary: Well, I was up all night with a sick friend. Mr. Franklin said rather sheepishly, "Would you believe I was up with a sick friend?"

See also: friend, night, up, was

make someone sick

to disgust someone. I am really tired of your vile talk. You make me sick! She screamed at him that he made her sick and then she ran out of the house.

See also: make

report in sick

to call one's office to say that one will not come to work because one is sick; to show up for work ill. (See also call in sick. Normally, one must be present to report in.) I don't feel well today. I will report in sick. The phone was busy, so I reported in sick by e-mail.

See also: report

sick (up)

sl. to empty one's stomach; to vomit. I think I'm going to sick up. Isn't there supposed to be a barf bag in one of these seat pockets? He's got to sick, and there's no air sickness bag. Help!

sick in bed

remaining in bed while (one is) ill. Tom is sick in bed with the flu. He's been sick in bed for nearly a week.

See also: bed

sick to death (of someone or something)

totally disgusted with someone or something. I am sick to death of your constant bickering. This reporting about the scandals in the government just has me sick to death.

See also: death

take sick and take ill

to become ill. I took sick with a bad cold last week. I hope I don't take ill before final exams.

See also: take

worried sick (about someone or something)

very worried or anxious about someone or something. Oh, thank heavens you are all right. We were worried sick about you!

See also: worry

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be as sick as a dog  (informal)

to be very sick She was as sick as a dog after that curry.

See also: dog

be as sick as a parrot  (British humorous)

to be very disappointed Tim was sick as a parrot when he heard Manchester had lost the match.

See also: parrot

be fed up/sick to the back teeth  (British & Australian informal)

to be bored or angry because a bad situation has continued for too long or a subject has been discussed too much (often + with ) He's been treating me badly for two years and, basically, I'm fed up to the back teeth with it. (often + of ) You're probably sick to the back teeth of hearing about my problems!

See also: back, fed, teeth, up

be sick and tired of something/doing something   (informal) also be sick to death of something/doing something (informal)

to be angry and bored because something unpleasant has been happening for too long You've been giving me the same old excuses for months and I'm sick and tired of hearing them! I've been treated like dirt for two years now and I'm sick to death of it!

See also: and, tired

be worried sick

to be extremely worried (often + about ) Why didn't you call me when you knew you were going to be late? I was worried sick about you!

See also: worry

feel sick to your stomach  (American & Australian)

if something makes you feel sick to your stomach, it is so unpleasant that it makes you feel ill Looking at those pieces of raw meat I felt sick to my stomach.

See also: feel, stomach

sick at heart  (literary)

very sad The thought of her home so far away made her sick at heart.

See be fed up to the back teeth

See also: heart

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as sick as a dog

very ill She was as sick as a dog after eating the stew.

See also: dog

call in sick

to telephone work or school to say you are ill and will not be there I woke up with a terrible cold and had to call in sick last week.

See also: call

make you sick

to cause you to feel disgust It makes me sick to think of how many people are destroying themselves with drugs.

See also: make

sick (and tired) of somebody/something

annoyed by someone or something fed up (with somebody/something) They visited so often that she was sick of them by the end of the summer. I'm sick and tired of hearing the same old excuses!

Usage notes: usually said about something that you have accepted for too long

Related vocabulary: sick to death of something

sick at heart

very sad, unhappy, or upset She was sick at heart, knowing that he was putting himself in great danger.

See also: heart

sick to your stomach

feeling like you are going to vomit When you saw the way his ankle was broken, you got sick to your stomach.

See also: stomach

sick to death of something (spoken)

extremely bored with something We are sick to death of the constant talk of a baseball strike.

Related vocabulary: sick (and tired) of somebody/something

See also: death