Medical and Health Idioms
Medical and health idioms are commonly used expressions in English that relate to physical and mental health. These idioms are a great way to express oneself in everyday conversations, especially when talking about health-related issues.
In this list, we have compiled 50 medical and health idioms with their meanings and examples to help you use them effectively in your conversations.
- A bitter pill to swallow – something unpleasant or difficult to accept
Example: Failing the exam was a bitter pill to swallow. - A clean bill of health – a report or confirmation that someone is healthy
Example: After the thorough checkup, the doctor gave him a clean bill of health. - A dose of your own medicine – experiencing the same treatment or behavior that one has inflicted on others
Example: After years of bullying his colleagues, he finally received a dose of his own medicine. - A hair of the dog that bit you – a small amount of what made you sick as a remedy for a hangover
Example: He drank a small glass of whiskey as a hair of the dog that bit him after a wild night out. - A picture of health – someone who looks very healthy
Example: After months of diet and exercise, she looked like a picture of health. - A stitch in time saves nine – a timely action can prevent a more serious problem in the future
Example: She fixed the small leak in the roof, knowing that a stitch in time saves nine. - As fit as a fiddle – in good health and physical condition
Example: Despite his age, he was still as fit as a fiddle. - As healthy as a horse – in excellent health
Example: She was always eating healthily and exercising, and was as healthy as a horse. - Back to the drawing board – a need to start again from the beginning because the previous attempt failed
Example: The surgery was unsuccessful, so the doctors went back to the drawing board. - Bed of roses – a comfortable, easy, or pleasant situation
Example: The job wasn’t a bed of roses, but it paid well. - Better safe than sorry – it’s better to take precautions to avoid negative consequences
Example: He always wore a helmet while riding his bike, believing in the adage that it’s better safe than sorry. - Break the ice – to start a conversation or activity to make people more relaxed
Example: He told a joke to break the ice before the meeting. - Butterflies in your stomach – a feeling of nervousness or anxiety
Example: She had butterflies in her stomach before giving her speech. - Catch someone’s eye – to get someone’s attention
Example: The bright colors of the display caught his eye. - Cold turkey – to suddenly and completely stop doing something, especially a bad habit
Example: He quit smoking cold turkey and never looked back. - Cough up – to provide money or information that one is reluctant to give
Example: He finally coughed up the information he had been hiding. - Curiosity killed the cat – excessive curiosity can lead to danger or trouble
Example: He shouldn’t have poked his nose where it didn’t belong – curiosity killed the cat. - Cut to the chase – to get to the point without wasting time
Example: Let’s cut to the chase and discuss the main issue. - Devil’s advocate – someone who presents a contrary argument for the sake of argument, even if they don’t believe in it themselves
Example: She played devil’s advocate to make sure all possible arguments were considered. - Don’t count your chickens before they hatch – don’t assume a favorable outcome before it’s certain
Example: He was already planning the party, but I reminded him not to count his chickens before they hatch. - Drop like flies – to fall or die in large numbers
Example: During the pandemic, people were dropping like flies. - Eat your heart out – an expression of superiority or triumph over someone else
Example: After winning the championship, he told his opponents to eat their heart out.
- Fit like a glove – to fit perfectly
Example: The dress fit her like a glove. - Go the extra mile – to do more than what is expected
Example: He always goes the extra mile to make sure his clients are satisfied. - Haste makes waste – acting too quickly can lead to mistakes or a poor outcome
Example: She realized that haste makes waste when she made a careless error on her project. - Hit the nail on the head – to say or do something exactly right
Example: She hit the nail on the head with her analysis of the problem. - In the dark – unaware or uninformed about something
Example: He was completely in the dark about the surprise party. - Jump the gun – to start doing something too soon
Example: He jumped the gun and began the presentation before the rest of the team was ready. - Keep a stiff upper lip – to remain brave and composed in a difficult situation
Example: Despite the bad news, she kept a stiff upper lip and stayed strong for her family. - Keep something at bay – to prevent something from approaching or becoming a problem
Example: Regular exercise can help keep chronic diseases at bay. - Kill two birds with one stone – to accomplish two things at the same time
Example: She picked up groceries on the way home from work, killing two birds with one stone. - Let the cat out of the bag – to reveal a secret
Example: He accidentally let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party. - Make a clean breast of something – to confess or admit to something
Example: He made a clean breast of his mistake and apologized. - Nose to the grindstone – to work hard and steadily
Example: She put her nose to the grindstone and finished the project before the deadline. - Off the wagon – to start drinking alcohol again after a period of abstinence
Example: He had been sober for months but fell off the wagon at the party. - On the wagon – to refrain from drinking alcohol
Example: She decided to get on the wagon and quit drinking. - Out of the woods – out of danger or difficulty
Example: After the successful surgery, the patient was out of the woods. - Pain in the neck – something or someone that is irritating or annoying
Example: The constant noise from the construction site was a pain in the neck. - Play it by ear – to decide or do something without a specific plan or direction
Example: We didn’t have a schedule, so we had to play it by ear on our trip. - Put all your eggs in one basket – to risk everything on one plan or course of action
Example: She invested all her money in one stock, putting all her eggs in one basket. - Quick fix – a temporary solution to a problem
Example: He was looking for a quick fix to his financial troubles. - Red flag – a warning sign or signal of danger
Example: The low tire pressure was a red flag that there was a problem with the car. - Sick as a dog – very sick or unwell
Example: After eating the spoiled food, he felt sick as a dog. - Sow your wild oats – to behave recklessly or promiscuously when young
Example: He spent his twenties traveling and sowing his wild oats before settling down. - Steal someone’s thunder – to take credit for someone else’s idea or accomplishment
Example: She was angry when her colleague stole her thunder by presenting her idea as his own. - Take one’s medicine – to accept the consequences of one’s actions
Example: After causing the accident, he knew he had to take his.
- The apple a day keeps the doctor away – a saying that suggests that a healthy lifestyle can prevent illness
Example: She always eats plenty of fruits and vegetables to keep the doctor away. - Throw in the towel – to give up or quit
Example: After the third round, he was exhausted and decided to throw in the towel. - Under the weather – feeling ill or unwell
Example: She had a headache and a sore throat and felt under the weather. - Wear your heart on your sleeve – to show one’s emotions openly and honestly
Example: She wears her heart on her sleeve and is always honest about her feelings.
Incorporating medical and health idioms in your daily conversations is a great way to express yourself accurately and effectively. These idioms provide a creative way to discuss health-related issues in a relatable and understandable manner. This list of 50 medical and health idioms has been helpful and will encourage you to use them in your conversations.
