As sick as a parrot

Definitions

• extreme disappointment or sadness
  To express feeling extremely disappointed or sad about something

• very ill or sick
  To describe someone who is feeling very unwell or sick

Examples of As sick as a parrot

• She was feeling so ill that morning she could barely move. She complained that her head was spinning, and she felt like she was going to be sick at any moment. Her face was deathly pale, and her eyes looked glazed over. It was clear that she had come down with some sort of nasty bug, and she couldn't shake off the feeling of misery. Her husband could see how sorry she looked, and he said, "You're as sick as a parrot today!"

  This idiom is used to describe someone who is extremely ill, and is often used when someone looks so bad that they could barely manage to utter a single word. The expression 'as sick as a parrot' implies that the person is so ill that they might pass out upon hearing the slightest sound, and that they are unable to do much other than lie down and recover in bed. The reference to a parrot comes from the fact that these birds are often kept in cages, and they can become quite sick and debilitated if they are kept in cramped conditions for too long. The expression suggests that the person in question is in a similarly poor state, and that they might need to be treated with care and attention until they recover fully.

Conclusion

The idiom "as sick as a parrot" is used in two main contexts: to express extreme disappointment or sadness, and to describe someone who is feeling very unwell or sick. In both cases, the phrase is used as a comparison to the physical state of a parrot, which is often associated with being sick or unhappy.

In the first context, the idiom is often used in situations where one has experienced a major disappointment or setback. For example, someone might say "I was as sick as a parrot when I didn't get the job I applied for." This conveys a sense of deep sadness and disappointment, as if the person is physically ill.

In the second context, the idiom is used to describe someone who is feeling very unwell or sick. This usage can be literal, as in "I'm as sick as a parrot with this flu," or more figurative, as in "She was as sick as a parrot after hearing the bad news." In both cases, the idiom paints a vivid picture of someone who is physically and emotionally drained.

Origin of "As sick as a parrot"

The origin of the idiom "as sick as a parrot" is believed to be rooted in the world of sports. In particular, it is thought to have originated in the game of football (soccer) in the United Kingdom. In the early 1900s, the phrase "as sick as a parrot" was used to describe a team or player who had suffered a crushing defeat. This is because parrots were often kept as pets by sailors, and it was believed that they became sick when their owners experienced misfortune at sea.

Over time, the phrase evolved to be used in a more general sense to describe extreme disappointment or sadness. It is now a commonly used idiom in British English, and is also used in other English-speaking countries. The phrase has also been popularized through its use in various forms of media, such as literature and television shows.

Overall, the idiom "as sick as a parrot" is a colorful and expressive phrase that is used to convey strong emotions of disappointment or illness. Its origin in the world of sports adds an interesting historical context to its usage, and it continues to be a well-known and frequently used idiom in modern English.