a cure worse than the disease
1. Literally, any drug, surgery, procedure, etc., used to cure or mitigate a disease or ailment that ultimately leads to worse symptoms than the original condition caused or might have caused. While the drug has proven to be effective in combating the disease, it has also been shown to ravage the body in other, more devastating ways. It seems at this point like a cure worse than the disease. I dreaded starting chemotherapy because I'd heard it was a cure worse than the disease. Paul had to rehab for so long after his knee replacement surgery that it began to feel like a cure worse than the disease.
2. By extension, a solution to a problem or crisis that leads to worse conditions overall than the original problem did or would have. The board of directors' plan to deal with the economic downturn is to reduce the entire company to a skeleton crew. I know drastic action needs to be taken, but we want to make sure this isn't a cure worse than the disease! I know you want to stimulate the financial sector, but repealing federal regulations would be a cure worse than the disease. Yeah, personal bankruptcy is an option, but with how much that affects your credit score for years to come, it might just be a cure worse than the disease.
a treatment worse than the disease
1. Literally, any drug, surgery, procedure, etc., used to cure or mitigate a disease or ailment that ultimately leads to worse symptoms than the original condition caused or might have caused. While the drug has proven to be effective in combating the disease, it has also been shown to ravage the body in other, more devastating ways. It seems at this point like a treatment worse than the disease. I dreaded starting chemotherapy because I'd heard it was a treatment worse than the disease. Paul had to rehab for so long after his knee replacement surgery that it began to feel like a treatment worse than the disease.
2. By extension, a solution to a problem or crisis that leads to worse conditions overall than the original problem did or would have. The board of directors' plan to deal with the economic downturn is to reduce the entire company to a skeleton crew. I know drastic action needs to be taken, but we want to make sure this isn't a treatment worse than the disease! I know you want to stimulate the financial sector, but repealing federal regulations would be a treatment worse than the disease. Yeah, personal bankruptcy is an option, but with how much that affects your credit score for years to come, it might just be a treatment worse than the disease.
be down with (something)
1. To be in agreement with, in support of, have interest in, or thoroughly enjoy some subject, activity, or thing. I am so down with math, it's my favorite subject in school! Yeah, I'm down with seeing a movie later this evening. Patty's down with a quick game of soccer and said she'd meet us at the park.
2. To be ill or have caught some disease. (More often expressed as "come down with something.") Marigold had to go home early today. I think she's down with the flu. I'm not surprised to hear that he's down with bronchitis. He'd been working too hard for too many days in a row. Now that graduation is so close, plenty of the kids are down with "senioritis," an apparent inability to do homework—or even show up anymore.
Christmas disease
Hemophilia (or haemophilia) B, a blood-clotting disorder in which a mutation of the Factor IX gene leads to a deficiency of Factor IX (or Christmas factor), a serine protease of the coagulation system. Both the factor and the disease are named for Stephen Christmas (not the holiday), the first patient discovered to have the condition in 1952. We haven't let our daughter participate in any more physical sports since she was diagnosed with Christmas disease last year. A: "Who is the most famous person to have had Christmas disease? The boy Rasputin tried to treat?" B: "You mean Nicholas II's son? Yeah, probably." Internal bleeding is a real concern for people with Christmas disease, given the ease with which they can start uncontrollably bleeding.
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.
desperate diseases must have desperate remedies
proverb Extreme and undesirable circumstances or situations can only be resolved by resorting to equally extreme actions. I know that the austerity measures introduced by the government during the recession are unpopular, but desperate diseases must have desperate remedies. I'll do anything to protect my daughter from the mob. Desperate diseases must have desperate remedies, right? I did every menial, unappealing job you can think of to keep a roof over my kids' heads when they were growing up. It's unfortunate, but desperate diseases must have desperate remedies.
diseases of the soul are more dangerous than those of the body
proverb Mental and emotional pain is more painful and more difficult to treat than a physical ailment. The quote is attributed to Marcus Tullius Cicero, a Roman statesman and philosopher. Therapists and psychiatrists are vitally important to our society. Diseases of the soul are more dangerous than those of the body, after all. Instances of suicide always make me think of that quote from Cicero: "Diseases of the soul are more dangerous than those of the body." How many of these violent crimes are a result of issues with mental health and/or conflict resolution? Truly, diseases of the soul are more dangerous than those of the body.
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.
foot-in-mouth disease
A habit of unintentionally saying foolish, tactless, or offensive things. He has foot-in-mouth disease, especially when he's forced to speak for too long, so try to get him off stage as soon as possible. Oh man, do I have foot-in-mouth-disease—I just congratulated Sarah's sister on being pregnant. She isn't. A: "I literally told you right before we went in that his mother had just passed away. Why would you ask about her?" B: "I don't know, I'm sorry! I have foot-in-mouth disease."
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.
the British disease
That which supposedly plagues British people, government, or society. Used especially in reference to an inability or unwillingness to be as productive as possible. The real British disease is not complacency or unrest, but the desire to achieve short-term goals at the cost of investing in long-term, sustainable economic policies.
the cure is worse than the disease
1. Literally, the drug, surgery, procedure, etc., used to cure or mitigate a disease or ailment ultimately leads to worse symptoms than the original condition caused or might have caused. While the drug has proven to be effective in combating the disease, it has also been shown to ravage the body in other, more devastating ways. It seems at this point that the cure is worse than the disease.
2. By extension, the solution to a problem or crisis leads to worse conditions overall than the original problem did or would have. Often used in negative constructions for rhetorical effect. The board of directors' plan to deal with the economic downturn is to reduce the entire company to a skeleton crew. I know drastic action needs to be taken, but we want to make sure the cure isn't worse than the disease! I know you want to repeal federal regulations to stimulate the financial sector, but that will inevitably lead to gross misconduct throughout the industry. Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease.
the disease to please
A constant need to make others happy. I think you're miserable because you have the disease to please. Try doing what makes you happy instead.
the treatment is worse than the disease
1. Literally, the drug, surgery, procedure, etc., used to cure or mitigate a disease or ailment ultimately leads to worse symptoms than the original condition caused or might have caused. While the drug has proven to be effective in combating the disease, it has also been shown to ravage the body in other, more devastating ways. It seems at this point that the treatment is worse than the disease.
2. By extension, the solution to a problem or crisis leads to worse conditions overall than the original problem did or would have. Often used in negative constructions for rhetorical effect. The board of directors' plan to deal with the economic downturn is to reduce the entire company to a skeleton crew. I know drastic action needs to be taken, but we want to make sure the treatment isn't worse than the disease! I know you want to repeal federal regulations to stimulate the financial sector, but that will inevitably lead to gross misconduct throughout the industry. Sometimes the treatment is worse than the disease.
white man's disease
1. Any disease or illness most prevalent among, or believed to only be contracted by, Caucasian people. Because I am of Indian descent, my friends and family couldn't believe I'd come down with multiple sclerosis, which they all refer to as a white man's disease.
2. slang The perceived inability of Caucasian men to jump as high as African-American men, especially in relation to basketball. He'd be such a better shooting guard if he didn't have white man's disease.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.