come down with something

Two days ago, I felt a little under the weather and thought I was coming down with something. I went home that evening feeling cold. I took my temperature when I got home, and found out that I had a fever, so after having a nice bowl of chicken soup, I went straight to bed. I slept well and woke up feeling much better.

I felt fine all day yesterday except for a slight sore throat. I thought surely, the worst was over and that I was getting better. Unfortunately, I woke up this morning with my throat feeling worse and my voice sounding horrible. Fortunately though, I don't feel under the weather anymore, and I definitely don't think I'm coming down with something. As I told my students, my voice sounds horrible, but I feel fine.

You say you're coming down with something when you're beginning to feel horrible and you're about to get sick. When you're already sick, you can use the past tense: I came down with something.

like this:

A: How's Susan? I heard that she came down with something.

B: Yeah, she was feeling under the weather yesterday. Now she's at home with a high fever.

A: That's horrible. Everyone's getting sick these days. We're just passing it on to each other.

B: I know. I usually take extra doses of vitamin C whenever I feel like I'm coming down with something.

A: I drink lots of orange juice and get plenty of rest.

under the weather - feeling sick or very tired (see yesterday's blog)

about to - almost going to happen (see the May 27, 2009 blog)

dose - amount or strength of medication or vitamins

Being under the weather and coming down with something are very similar. However, being under the weather can simply mean you're extremely tired, while coming down with something specifically means you're getting sick. You can also be specific and say she came down with the flu or he came down with a cold.

Stay healthy, everyone, and have a happy Thanksgiving!

Joe

the small guide site

under the weather

I'm feeling just a little under the weather today. It started with a slight cough and an itchy throat last night. I woke up this morning feeling a little more tired than usual. As always, I refuse to say that I'm sick. ...and in fact, I'm sure that I'm not sick (yet), but I know I have to take good care of myself and make sure I eat well and get plenty of rest.

So if you haven't figured it out yet, feeling or being under the weather means feeling sick or feeling extra tired than usual. People can feel under the weather any time of the year, of course, but it's especially common in the winter when everyone around us is getting sick and there are more chances of catching a bug from someone.

like this:

A: What happened to Sally? Is she ok?

B: She was feeling a little under the weather so she decided to go home early.

A: That's a good idea. A couple of weeks ago, I was feeling under the weather, but I stayed on to finish my shift; I had to stay home the next couple of days with a high fever.

B: Yeah. It's definitely wise to take care of yourself as soon as you feel a little sick.

A: Absolutely.

figure out - understand; find the answer

bug - a virus or bacteria that can make you sick

shift - work schedule; work time

Alright folks, I hope you stay healthy this winter. If you feel slightly under the weather, I hope you can stay home, rest, have some chicken noodle soup, and get plenty of sleep.

Good luck,

Joe

the small guide site

I've got to hand it to you.

We use this expression when we acknowledge or praise someone for a quality they have that we admire. We often say this when someone can do something that not everyone can do. For example, if a friend knows how to talk to kids, and children always listen to him, you can say, "I've got to hand it to you, man, you know how to make them listen." ...or if Tom, your coworker, gives excellent presentations, you can say, "I've got to hand it to you, Tom. Your presentations are never boring. Good job!"

like this:

A: What did you get on your essay?

B: I got a B. I heard Sally got an A+ again.

A: I've got to hand it to her. That girl can write really well.

B: I know. I usually ask her to check my homework.

A: Really? I should start doing that. I got a B minus on my essay.

B: She's always busy, though, so you have to pick the right time to ask.

A: Actually, I can also ask my friend, John, and another friend Sue, who's in college now. They both can write well, too.

B: You know, I've got to hand it to you. You have a lot of smart friends.

A: I know. ...and they're very helpful, too.

You get the idea - You know what I mean, right? (see the July 24 blog)

Alright folks, the next time you want to tell a friend they've done a good job, start with I've got to hand it to you, then tell them what you admire about them. For example, I've got to hand it to you. You know how to tell a joke. ...or You really know how to cook. ...or You're a very adventurous person. You get the idea.

Good luck!

Joe

the small guide site

when it comes to

When it comes to that is another way of saying "when we talk about that" or "when we consider that." That can represent any topic or situation. For example, you can say when it comes to politics, I never know what to say, or he can tell you anything when it comes to sports, or when it comes to her grades, she gets very serious.

like this:

A: I need to open a savings account. I should start putting money away for my future.

B: I need to do the same. I'm so bad when it comes to saving money.

A: I'll have to watch my spending, though. I waste a lot of money on lattes and junk food throughout the day.

B: I usually make tea at home and bring it with me, and I don't eat much junk food. But I'm a huge movie junkie. I have a hard time controlling my spending when it comes to buying DVDs, especially if they're on sale.

A: It's really tough controlling spending when you're obsessed with something.

B: I know.

junkie - addicted; obsessed

obsessed - crazy about something

Alright folks, what do you enjoy most when it comes to travel or when it comes to parties? You can say when it comes to travel, I enjoy taking photographs or meeting people or ... When it comes to parties, I love trying a new dish or a new dance or ...

Make sentences that make sense to you, and practice.

Good luck.

Joe

the small guide site