Idioms about health are commonly used in our daily life. Do you have a healthy diet? How much do you weigh? Are you fit? Do you have a healthy lifestyle?
Understanding idioms related to health in English can be super cool and helpful! Did you know that over 25% of the English language is made up of idiomatic expressions? That’s like having a secret codebook to understand how people talk about feeling healthy or not-so-great. Learning these phrases, like “feeling under the weather” or “in the pink,” can make conversations more exciting and understandable. Almost 90% of native English speakers use idioms regularly, so knowing them will help you communicate better and understand others more easily!
Studies show that kids who know health idioms have better communication skills. Around 70% of people believe that understanding idiomatic expressions is crucial for expressing feelings and ideas effectively. It’s like having a special tool to describe how you feel or what’s happening in your body. Plus, when you know phrases like “fit as a fiddle” or “as right as rain,” it’s like being part of a secret language club!
Learning idioms about health isn’t just about speaking English better; it’s also a way to explore different cultures. Did you know that idiomatic expressions about health vary across countries? Around 95% of the world’s population uses idioms, and each culture has its unique phrases! That’s why you should learn how to improve English vocabulary and other skills. So, by learning these expressions, you’re not only becoming a pro in English but also opening doors to understanding how people from different parts of the world talk about staying healthy or feeling unwell. It’s like learning a language that connects us all, with over 6,000 languages spoken worldwide!
In this lesson, we are going to learn some English idioms about health so that we can speak about this subject. So stay with us!
1.To slim down (OF health idioms)
What do you do if you are overweight and fat? Well, one thing that you can do is ignore it! but another thing that you can do is slim down.
To slim down is of idioms about health that means to lose some weight. It’s a fancier way of saying lose some weight. So, if your friend is fat, instead of telling him / her to lose weight, you can say “You need to slim down”. For example:
- Diet and regular exercise can help you slim down.
Another meaning of “slim down” is to make something smaller or to reduce something. For example:
- We need to slim down the company’s advertising budget. (We need to reduce the advertising budget.)
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2.To get in shape (Of idioms about health)
What is the goal of slimming down? You slim down to get into shape (which is another example of idioms about health ). To get into shape means to lose some weight so that you are fit and you look good. for example:
- I really need to get into shape before going to the beach.
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3. To cut down on something (Of health idioms)
In order to get into shape, you have to cut down on something. “To cut down on something” means to reduce consumption of something, to consume less of something. in a simpler way, it means to eat and drink less. For example:
- I think I should cut down on sugary drinks if I want to get into shape.
Another example of idioms about health is to cut out something. To be fit and get into shape you sometimes need to cut out something. “to cut out something” means to avoid something, to avoid eating / drinking something. for example:
- You have to cut out junk food if you want to stay healthy!
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5. To go on a crash diet (Of idioms for healthy lifestyle)
Some people are in a hurry to lose weight and they want to lose weight in two weeks! To do so, they go on a crash diet. What is a “crash diet”?
a crash diet is a very severe and strict diet to lose weight in a very short period of time. These kinds of diets are often unhealthy so try to avoid them.
- I don’t think a crash diet can help you lose 50 pounds in one week!
6. To go bananas (Of English idioms about health)
Imagine if you really, really loved something, like your favorite game or a type of candy. You might get really, really excited and happy about it. Well, when people say “to go bananas,” it’s like saying someone is so excited about something that they act a bit silly or crazy, just like how monkeys might act when they’re really happy and energetic. So, if someone says they “went bananas” about a new toy or a fun event, it means they got super excited and couldn’t contain their happiness!
This item of health idioms is often used in the context of a new diet or healthy eating plan. For example:
She went bananas over the new plant-based diet she started.
Learn more: Read the article about idioms about money in English
Imagine a tough cookie is like a special kind of cookie that’s really strong and doesn’t break easily. When we use the phrase “to be a tough cookie” about a person, it means that person is strong and determined, especially when facing difficult situations. They don’t give up easily, just like how a tough cookie doesn’t break easily (especially when it comes to sticking to a strict diet). So, if someone says you’re a tough cookie, it means they think you’re really strong and brave!
Example: “Sticking to her gluten-free diet in a world full of pastries was a challenge, but she’s a tough cookie.”
Learn more: Read the article about idioms with colours in English
8. To have one’s cake and eat it too (Of diet idioms)
Imagine you have a delicious cake in front of you. It looks so yummy that you really want to eat it. But if you eat it, it will be gone, and you won’t have it anymore.
So, when people say “to have one’s cake and eat it too,” it’s like saying someone wants to eat the cake but also keep it for later. This item of idioms about health means wanting to enjoy all the good things without giving anything up.
For example, let’s say you have a big bag of candy. If you eat all the candy at once, it’ll be gone, right? But if you want to save some for later, you have to be careful and not eat it all now. So, wanting to keep your candy for later while also eating some is like wanting to have your cake and eat it too! It’s a bit like trying to have the best of both worlds!
Example: “He wants to lose weight, but he also wants to eat junk food every day. He can’t have his cake and eat it too!”
9. To be a couch potato (of health idioms)
Imagine a potato that really, really likes sitting on the couch and watching TV all day. It doesn’t want to do anything else, like go outside to play or do fun activities.
So, when people say “to be a couch potato” about a person, they mean that person spends a lot of time sitting on the couch, not moving around much, and watching TV or playing video games for a long time. It’s like the person is as still as a potato sitting on a couch!
It’s okay to relax and watch TV sometimes, but being a “couch potato” means doing it a lot and not getting much exercise or fresh air, which is not very healthy. So, it’s good to balance relaxing time with active time!
Example: “He used to be a couch potato, but now he’s hitting the gym and eating better.”
Imagine if you really, really liked one thing, like a favorite game or a type of food. You might think about it a lot and want to do it or have it all the time.
When people say “to have a one-track mind,” it’s like saying someone is really focused on just one thing. They might be thinking about it a lot and always want to do it. It’s like they have a special train track in their brain that only goes in one direction, and that direction is the thing they’re thinking about.
So, if someone says you have a one-track mind about a game you really like, it means you’re thinking about it a lot and really want to play it. It’s okay to have things you really enjoy, but it’s also good to have a balance and think about other things too!
Learn more: Learn about the idioms about feelings and emotions
11. To be in the soup (OF idioms about health)
Imagine you’re in a situation that’s a little bit tricky or difficult, like if you accidentally spilled paint on the floor and you’re not sure how to clean it up. That’s a bit like being in the soup.
When people say “to be in the soup,” it means someone is in a bit of trouble or facing a problem. It’s like being stuck in a situation that’s a little bit hard to figure out. This idiom is often used when someone’s diet is restricted or they’re trying to avoid certain foods.
So, if you were playing a game and got stuck in a tricky part, you could say you’re “in the soup” in that situation. It’s like saying you’re in a bit of a tricky spot! Remember, it’s okay to ask for help when you’re in the soup, just like asking for help with a tricky game level!
12. To go cold turkey (Of diet idioms)
Imagine if you really, really liked a type of candy, but your mom or dad said you couldn’t have it anymore because it’s not good for you. They might say, “No more candy, cold turkey!”
When people say “to go cold turkey,” it means to stop doing something you really like or are used to doing, all at once and completely. It’s like if you were playing a favorite game, and suddenly you had to stop playing it altogether.
So, if someone says they’re going cold turkey on cookies, it means they’re deciding to stop eating cookies completely, even if they really love them. It can be a bit tough at first, but it’s usually for a good reason, like wanting to be healthier! This idiom is often used in the context of cutting out certain foods from one’s diet.
Example: “He decided to go cold turkey on processed sugars.”
Learn more: Read the article about the advanced phrases in English
13. Fit as a fiddle
This item of the idioms about healthy lifestyle is a cool way to describe someone who’s super healthy and strong. Imagine a fiddle, the musical instrument, being in perfect shape to make beautiful music—well, when people say “fit as a fiddle,” they mean a person is in perfect shape, feeling awesome, and healthy as can be.
So, being “fit as a fiddle” is like saying you’re as strong and healthy as a superhero! Just like how a fiddle needs to be in great shape to make great music, our bodies need to be strong and healthy to do all the amazing things we love, like playing games, running around, or having fun with friends. When someone says you’re “fit as a fiddle,” they’re saying you’re doing a fantastic job keeping yourself healthy and strong.
14. An apple a day keeps the doctor away
One of the idioms for healthy lifestyle is “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”. It’s a fun phrase that means if you eat an apple every day, it can help you stay healthy and might prevent you from getting sick. Now, it doesn’t mean you’ll never, ever need to see the doctor because apples are magical. Instead, it’s all about how eating healthy foods, like apples, can make your body stronger and less likely to get sick.
Think of apples as superheroes for your body! They’re filled with vitamins and good stuff that your body really likes. When you eat an apple every day, it’s like giving your body a little boost to help it stay strong and fight off any bad germs that might try to make you feel unwell. So, while eating an apple might not make you completely invincible, it’s a great way to help your body stay healthy and happy.
In this article, we learned about the most common idioms about health in the English language. Don’t forget to practice these idioms and try using them in your conversations.
Summary of the lesson ” Idioms about health “
Let’s review the idioms that we just learned
✅ To slim down → to lose some weight
✅ To get in shape → to lose weight
✅ To cut down on something → To reduce consumption of something
✅ To cut out something → to avoid something
✅ To go on a crash diet → to go on a very severe and strict diet to lose weight in a very short period of time.
✅ To go bananas → to become extremely excited
✅
✅ To have one’s cake and eat it too
✅ To be a couch potato
✅To have a one-track mind
✅To be in the soup
✅To go cold turkey
✅Fit as a fiddle
✅An apple a day keeps the doctor away → Eating an apple daily can contribute to good health and possibly prevent the need to see a doctor for illness.
Sir,i have read it and it’s so useful and easy to understand! Thanks for sharing.
Good afternoon,
Excellent idioms.
Thanks
I really need to go on crash diet so that I can lose weight in short period of time because I want to get into shape to fit in my favorite attires 🙏Thank you teacher Maddy for teaching us May God bless you.
The English teacher I admire most
The way you teach English is fantastic, i quite enjoying it,I would like to thank you for that.
I really like the way you teach English; please accept my gratitude for that.