PhrasesHub

green around the gills

    Definitions

      • looking unwell
        Describing someone who appears pale or sickly, often due to nausea or illness

    Examples of green around the gills

    • The sailor looked green around the gills as he stumbled off the boat, clearly suffering from seasickness.

      This idiom refers to the appearance of someone who is extremely nauseous or ill due to motion sickness, especially someone who has just been on a boat or ship for an extended period of time. The term "green around the gills" comes from the pale, almost sickly green color that many people turn when they're feeling extremely ill. In this example, the sailor's sickly green complexion is noticeable around his eyes and the base of his neck, indicating that he has been affected by seasickness. This idiom is commonly used to describe someone who is ill due to motion sickness, but it can also be used more generally to describe someone who is feeling generally unwell or green around the gills due to other causes.

    • After a night of heavy drinking, Sarah woke up feeling green around the gills.

      The idiom "green around the gills" is used to describe someone who has become pale or sickly due to excessive drinking or seasickness. In Sarah's case, she had consumed too much alcohol the previous night, causing her to feel nauseous and unwell.

    • The sailors looked green around the gills after several days at sea.

      Seasickness, or motion sickness, is a common ailment for people traveling on the ocean or in rough water. The idiom "green around the gills" is a vivid and descriptive way to illustrate the physical symptoms of seasickness, such as pale skin and a greenish complexion.

    • The food at the restaurant made John feel green around the gills.

      In some cases, food poisoning or foodborne illnesses can lead to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and a loss of appetite. The idiom "green around the gills" can help convey the severity of these symptoms, as the affected person may appear pale or sickly due to the illness.

    • The roller coaster's twists and turns left the riders feeling green around the gills.

      Roller coasters and other amusement park rides can cause motion sickness in some people, leading to feelings of nausea and discomfort. The idiom "green around the gills" is a colorful and expressive way to describe the physical symptoms of motion sickness, helping to vividly convey the intensity of the sensation.

    • The fisherman looked green around the gills after spending hours on the rough sea.

      This is a common use of the idiom, where "green around the gills" refers to the appearance of someone who is feeling seasick or is otherwise nauseous. In this example, the fisherman has been out on the rough sea for a long time, which has caused him to feel sick and hence, look green around the gills.

    • The patient lying on the hospital bed looked green around the gills, as the doctor started explaining the surgical procedure in detail.

      Here, the idiom "green around the gills" is used metaphorically to describe the feeling of discomfort and nausea that the patient might experience due to detailed explanations of the surgical procedure. It can also be taken literally, as people under anesthesia can sometimes appear green due to the effect of the medicine used.

    • The cooking oil in the deep fryer started to look green around the gills as it began to spoil due to a lack of proper storage.

      Here, the idiom is used to describe how the cooking oil, which is usually clear or yellow in color, started to turn green due to the spoilage caused by improper storage. This green coloration might have been caused by the growth of bacteria in the oil, which could have led to an unpleasant smell and a bad taste.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "green around the gills" is commonly used to describe someone who looks unwell or sickly. It is often used to indicate that someone appears pale or nauseous, suggesting that they may be feeling ill or unwell.

    Origin of "green around the gills"

    The origin of the idiom "green around the gills" is believed to come from the idea that when a person is feeling nauseous or unwell, their skin may take on a greenish hue, particularly around the area of the gills, which is a term used to describe the side of a fish where its gills are located. This imagery of a sickly, greenish pallor has been linked to the idiom, and it has been used in this context for many years to describe someone who looks unwell or nauseous.

    There are also theories that the phrase may have originated from sailors, who often experienced seasickness while out at sea. The paleness and sickness associated with seasickness may have contributed to the use of the idiom "green around the gills" to describe someone who looks unwell. Regardless of its exact origins, the idiom has become a common way to express the idea of someone appearing sickly or nauseous.