ill (redirected from think ill)

fall ill

Fig. to become ill. Tom fell ill just before he was to perform. We both fell ill after eating the baked fish.

See also: fall

house of ill repute and house of ill fame

Euph. a house of prostitution. The sign says "Health Club," but everyone knows it's a house of ill repute. He made a lot of money by running a house of ill fame.

See also: house, repute

ill at ease

uneasy; anxious. I feel ill at ease about the interview. You look ill at ease. Please relax.

See also: ease

ill will

hostile feelings or intentions. I hope you do not have any ill will toward me because of our argument. Dave felt such ill will toward his family that he left his fortune to his best friend.

ill-disposed to doing something

not friendly; not favorable; opposed. I am ill-disposed to doing hard labor. The police chief was ill-disposed to discussing the details of the case to the news reporters.

See also: doing

ill-gotten gains

money or other possessions acquired in a dishonest or illegal fashion. Bill cheated at cards and is now living on his ill-gotten gains. Mary is enjoying her ill-gotten gains. She deceived an old lady into leaving her $5,000 in her will.

See also: gain

It's an ill bird that fouls its own nest.

Prov. Only a foolish or dishonorable person would bring dishonor to his or her self or his or her surroundings.; Only a bad person would ruin the place where he or she lives. (See also foul one's own nest.) I don't like my new neighbor. Not only does he never mow his lawn, he covers it with all kinds of trash. It's an ill bird that fouls its own nest.

See also: bird, foul, nest

It's an ill wind that blows nobody (any) good.

Prov. Even misfortune can benefit someone or something.; A calamity for one person usually benefits somebody else. The tremendous hailstorm left gaping holes in most of the roofs in town, so many families were homeless. The roofing companies, however, made plenty of money fixing those holes. It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good.

See also: blow, good, nobody, wind

It's ill waiting for dead men's shoes.

Prov. You should not be eager for someone to die so that you inherit something. Phil: Why should I bother to learn some kind of trade? I'll be rich when Grandpa dies and leaves me all his money. Alan: It's ill waiting for dead men's shoes.

See also: dead, shoe, waiting

Never speak ill of the dead.

Prov. You should not say bad things about dead people. Your Uncle Phil had a lot of faults, but there's no reason to talk about them now that he's gone. Never speak ill of the dead. I hate to speak ill of the dead, but Amy was a mean woman, God rest her soul.

See also: dead, never, speak

speak ill of someone

to say something bad about someone. I refuse to speak ill of any of my friends. Max speaks ill of no one and refuses to repeat gossip.

See also: speak

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: sick, take

woman of ill repute

Euph. a prostitute. His favorite companion was a woman of ill repute. If you can't be faithful to your husband, you're no better than a woman of ill repute.

See also: repute, woman

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be ill at ease

to feel anxious or embarrassed (often + with ) He always felt a little ill at ease with strangers. (sometimes + in ) The girl behind the bar looked ill at ease in her uniform.

See also: ease

It's an ill wind (that blows nobody any good).

something that you say which means most bad things that happen have a good result for someone But it's an ill wind. The wettest June in history has replenished the reservoirs.

See also: wind

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ill at ease

worried and uncomfortable The old gentleman obviously felt ill at ease while he waited to have his hair cut.

Opposite of: at ease

See also: ease