Under the Weather – Idiom of the day for IELTS Speaking & Writing
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Want to expand your vocabulary words? Boost your fluency with the idiom 'Under the Weather' and familiarize yourself with the strategies to use it in the IELTS Speaking & Writing sections, Learn its meaning, usage, and practical examples to get a band 8+.
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For both the IELTS Speaking and Writing sections, you have to show how well you are able to use vocabulary in different contexts, including idiomatic expressions such as ‘Under the Weather’. This idiom for feeling ill is an informal phrase which is used to express personal experiences, in informal letters, and discussions on health. By diving into such expressions, you can acquire the skills to show a higher language proficiency in the IELTS Exam.
Let’s improve your lexical resources with the idiom and learn the relevant example and practice tips.
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What is the Definition of the Idiom ‘Under the Weather’?
Recognizing the contextual use of idioms is a vital step that can enhance your understanding of the idiom’s meaning and help you use it in the appropriate relevant context. Along with that, you must learn how to create sentences with it to achieve a higher IELTS Band Score. Let’s dive into understanding the definition of the idiom ‘under the weather’, its synonyms, and example sentences.
Topic |
Description |
Under the Weather |
Idiom |
Definition |
Slightly unwell. |
Synonyms |
Feeling sick, ill, not feeling well |
Examples |
Whenever I am under the weather, the only thing I would like to do is relax in a big comfy chair with a blanket. Whatever she ate for lunch is making her feel a bit under the weather.
Young people find it hard to concentrate on their studies, particularly when they are under the weather. Students who are always under the weather fail to accomplish their academic outcomes. |
Want to learn IELTS Speaking IDIOMS for BAND 9? Let’s check out the video below!
How to Use ‘Under the Weather’ in IELTS Speaking & Writing Answers for a Band 8+?
Utilizing an idiom in your IELTS Speaking & Writing answers would portray an even flow of communication and add more variety in expression. However, you need to master its communication context and relevance rather than just using them randomly. Below are some of the ways you can use the term to your advantage.
Topic |
Strategy |
Example |
Personal Experience |
|
Last month, I was under the weather so I couldn’t attend my friend’s birthday party. |
Health and Lifestyle |
|
During winter, a lot of individuals generally feel under the weather owing to drastic changes in weather. |
Apologizing for Absence |
|
Attending the wedding was impossible because I was under the weather last weekend. |
Describing Someone Else’s Condition |
|
My sister was under the weather last week, so she spent two days in bed. |
Workplace |
|
Occasionally, an employee will call in sick because they are feeling under the weather. However, others opine that they use an illness as an excuse to not come to work. |
Seasonal Health Problems |
|
During the monsoon when the weather is cold and damp, an underlined problem is present which makes many people feel under the weather. |
Grab the Vocabulary for IELTS (Essential words for popular topics in IELTS) and take a step towards your desired band score of 8+.
Exercise on ‘Under the Weather’ for IELTS Speaking & Writing
Use of the idiom ‘Under the Weather’ will help you foster a natural feel for your response. This will make you familiar with when and how to use it correctly. The exercise below allows you to practice the use of the idiom, understand its application, and build confidence ahead of the real test.
EXERCISE : Choose the most suitable idiom from the options below to complete each sentence.
under the weather |
hit the sack |
bite the bullet |
crocodile tears |
break the ice |
a blessing in disguise |
1 Losing my first job turned out to be __________ because it led to a much better career opportunity.
2 The politician’s apology seemed like __________; nobody really thought that he cared.
3 I didn’t go to school yesterday because I was feeling __________.
4 To get the meeting off on a friendly approach, the manager related a funny story to __________.
5 After a hard day's work, ordinarily, I __________ right away upon entering the house.
6 I never wanted my parents to know about the mistake I made, but I had to __________ eventually.
Answer to the Exercise on ‘Under the Weather’ for IELTS Speaking & Writing
It is about time to check out your answers. Compare them with the suggested ones and take some reflection into why you made those choices. The process will allow an understanding of any errors, change your course of action, and give a boost to your IELTS preparation.
- a blessing in disguise
- crocodile tears
- under the weather
- break the ice
- hit the sack
- bite the bullet
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In order to benefit from this idiom ‘Under the Weather’, remember that it belongs to informal or semi-informal situations such as personal anecdotes, informal letters, or discussions of daily occurrences. Practicing use of the idiom will help you in recognizing contexts for using it in your Speaking & IELTS Writing Sections. This will help you polishing your lexical resource, boosting your confidence, and helping you to acquire a higher IELTS band score.
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