March 10, 2008

Origins 3: Under the Weather

That's how I've been feeling the last couple of days as some sniffles and drainage finally matured into . . . something, whatever this is.  The folks at Phrase Finder say this
. . . To be under the weather is to be unwell. This comes again from a maritime source. In the old days, when a sailor was unwell, he was sent down below to help his recovery, under the deck and away from the weather.

. . . . "Under the weather. To feel ill. Originally it meant to feel seasick or to be adversely affected by bad weather. The term is correctly 'under the weather bow' which is a gloomy prospect; the weather bow is the side upon which all the rotten weather is blowing." From "Salty Dog Talk: The Nautical Origins of Everyday Expressions" by Bill Beavis and Richard G. McCloskey (Sheridan House, Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., 1995. First published in Great Britain, 1983).

And yes, you can, with the exception of insulin, liquid anibiotics, and nitroglycerin, ignore those expiration dates on your medicine.

No comments:

Blog Archive