When preparing for the IELTS exam, understanding idiomatic expressions can significantly enhance your speaking and writing skills. One such idiom is “under the weather“, which is commonly used in English. This article aims to dissect its meaning, usage, and relevance in the IELTS exam, along with related idioms and vocabulary.
Understanding “- Under the Weather”
The idiom “- Under The Weather” means “feeling ill or unwell.” It’s often used informally to describe a state of minor sickness, like having a cold or feeling generally fatigued.
- Pronunciation: /ˈʌndər ðə ˈweðər/
- Part of Speech: Idiom (informally used)
- Main Usage: To describe someone who is feeling a bit sick or unwell.
Examples:
- She called in sick today because she was feeling under the weather.
- After the long flight, he felt under the weather.
- I’m sorry I missed your party; I was under the weather.
Related Vocabulary
-
Unwell (/ʌnˈwɛl/): adjective. Not feeling well.
- Example: She has been feeling unwell for several days.
-
Ill (/ɪl/): adjective. Suffering from an illness or disease.
- Example: He has been ill with the flu for a week.
-
Sick (/sɪk/): adjective. Physically or mentally unwell.
- Example: I need to see a doctor because I feel sick.
-
Ailing (/ˈeɪlɪŋ/): adjective. In poor health.
- Example: The ailing patient required constant care.
-
Fatigued (/fəˈtiːɡd/): adjective. Extremely tired, often due to illness.
- Example: The young mother felt fatigued after weeks of sleepless nights.
Feeling Under the Weather
Frequency in IELTS Exam
Idiomatic expressions, including “- under the weather”, can appear in various parts of the IELTS exam, particularly in the Speaking and Writing sections. Using such idiomatic language correctly can showcase a candidate’s proficiency and improve their score.
Speaking Section
In the IELTS Speaking section, candidates might be asked to describe a time when they were ill or not feeling well. Here, idioms like “- under the weather” can be highly effective.
Example Question: Describe a time when you were not feeling well.
Sample Answer:
“Last month, I felt under the weather due to a severe cold. I had a sore throat, and my body ached all over. Despite feeling under the weather, I continued with my daily routine but took extra care to rest and hydrate.”
Writing Section
In the IELTS Writing section, this idiom might be useful in Task 1 when writing informal letters or in Task 2 while discussing health-related topics.
Example Task 1 Prompt: Write a letter to a friend apologizing for missing their birthday party because you were not feeling well.
Sample Writing:
“Dear Tom,
I’m truly sorry for missing your birthday party last week. Unfortunately, I was feeling under the weather and thought it best to stay in bed. I hope you had a wonderful time, and I promise to make it up to you soon.
Best regards, Jane”
Examples and Their Analysis
Let’s analyze how to incorporate “- under the weather” in various contexts, especially focusing on IELTS tasks.
Example Sentences
-
Informal Conversation:
- “I won’t be coming to work today; I’m feeling under the weather.”
-
Storytelling:
- “My vacation was ruined because I felt under the weather for the entire week.”
-
Writing (Informal Letter):
- “Dear Aunt, I’m sorry for not visiting last weekend. I was feeling under the weather and didn’t want to infect anyone.”
-
Expressing Sympathy:
- “You look under the weather. Do you need help with your tasks?”
Idiomatic Expressions and Collocations
Understanding common idiomatic expressions and collocations is essential to mastering English.
- Related Idioms:
- Fell ill: to become sick suddenly.
- “She suddenly fell ill and had to go home.”
- Catch a cold: to get an illness from being in cold weather.
- “He caught a cold after playing in the rain.”
- Feeling off-color: not feeling well.
- “I’m feeling a bit off-color today.”
- Feeling poorly: feeling sick.
- “She was feeling poorly last night, so she skipped dinner.”
- On the mend: recovering from an illness.
- “I was sick last week, but I’m on the mend now.”
- Fell ill: to become sick suddenly.
Conclusion
Understanding and effectively using idiomatic expressions like “- under the weather” can significantly boost your IELTS performance, especially in Speaking and Writing. By incorporating such phrases into your study routine, you can add naturalness and fluency to your language skills.
Practice using these idioms in various contexts, and you’ll be well-prepared for the IELTS exam. Remember, regular usage and practice are key to mastering these expressions.
For more detailed strategies and examples, check out these related articles:
