medicine
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Bite the bullet
To endure a difficult or unpleasant situation with courage and resolution, especially when it is unavoidable.
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Cold turkey
To abruptly stop an addictive habit or activity completely and without any gradual reduction.
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Under the weather
To feel unwell or slightly sick.
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A bitter pill to swallow
An unpleasant or difficult truth or situation that one must accept, despite its undesirable nature.
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Get a Taste of Your Own Medicine
To experience the same unpleasant treatment or consequences that one has inflicted upon others.
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Take It With a Grain of Salt
To regard something with skepticism or not to believe it entirely, acknowledging it might not be completely true or accurate.
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A sight for sore eyes
Someone or something that brings great relief or pleasure to a person who has been longing to see it.
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Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon is the large tendon connecting the calf muscles to the heel bone, and metaphorically, it refers to a person's or system's primary weakness or vulnerability.
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Come to a head
A situation reaches a critical point where a decisive action or resolution is imminent.
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Drop like flies
To fall ill, die, or fail in large numbers, often quickly and simultaneously.
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On the mend
Recovering from an illness, injury, or setback and showing signs of improvement.
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With a pinch of salt
To interpret information or a statement with a degree of skepticism, not fully believing its accuracy or truth.
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Shell shock
Shell shock is a term coined during World War I to describe the profound psychological and neurological trauma experienced by soldiers exposed to intense combat, particularly prolonged artillery bombardment.
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Touch a raw nerve
To mention a sensitive subject that causes someone distress, annoyance, or a strong emotional reaction.
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clean and sober
To be clean and sober means to be abstinent from both alcohol and illicit drugs, particularly after a period of substance abuse or addiction.
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pop a pill
To ingest a tablet or capsule, typically referring to medication.
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go cold turkey
To abruptly and completely stop an addictive habit or undesirable behavior without gradually reducing it.
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mainlining
Mainlining refers to injecting a drug, especially a potent one, directly into a major vein for an immediate and powerful effect.
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What the doctor ordered
Something that is precisely what is needed or desired for a particular situation or person.
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A shot in the arm
Something that gives a sudden boost of energy, encouragement, or renewed vigor.
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A dose of one's own medicine
To experience the same unpleasant or unfair treatment that one has inflicted on others.
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A clean bill of health
A declaration or certification that someone or something is free from illness, disease, or problems.
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Go under the knife
To undergo a surgical operation.
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Sugarcoat the pill
To make something unpleasant or difficult seem more appealing or acceptable by presenting it in a softer or less direct way.
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Take one's medicine
To accept unpleasant consequences or a difficult situation that one deserves or cannot avoid.
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Brain dead
A medical condition characterized by the irreversible cessation of all brain function, including the brainstem, often used colloquially to describe someone acting extremely foolishly or unresponsive.
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A frog in your throat
To have a hoarse, raspy, or unclear voice, often due to a cough, dryness, or a slight illness.
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Hair of the dog
An alcoholic drink taken to cure or alleviate the symptoms of a hangover.
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Put someone's nose out of joint
To annoy, offend, or upset someone, often by making them feel slighted, envious, or their pride wounded.
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Take your medicine
To accept an unpleasant but necessary consequence, punishment, or responsibility.
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Down with an illness
To be suffering from an illness, often implying a state of being bedridden or otherwise incapacitated.
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Rub salt in the wound
To make a difficult or painful situation even worse for someone, often by reminding them of it or adding insult to injury.
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Cure-all
A supposed remedy or solution for all diseases or problems.
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Going under the knife
To undergo a surgical operation, typically involving an incision.
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Give someone a dose of their own medicine
To treat someone with the same unpleasant or unfair behavior that they have previously inflicted on others.
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Stomach something
To endure or tolerate something unpleasant, often despite a strong dislike or difficulty.
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Break out in a cold sweat
To suddenly experience a physical reaction of clammy perspiration, typically due to intense fear, anxiety, or nervousness.
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In critical condition
Describing a state of severe and immediate danger, typically referring to a person's health after an injury or illness.
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Catch your death of cold
To contract a severe illness, usually a cold, that is so bad it could potentially be life-threatening (often used hyperbolically).
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Take a chill pill
To calm down, relax, or stop being so agitated and stressed.
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Bedside manner
The way a healthcare professional interacts with patients, encompassing their empathy, communication skills, and overall demeanor.
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Sick to your stomach
To feel nauseous and have an urge to vomit, often due to physical illness, anxiety, or intense disgust.
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Pull through
To successfully recover from a serious illness, injury, or difficult situation.
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Have a frog in one's throat
To have a hoarse voice or difficulty speaking clearly due to dryness or a sore throat.
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A taste of your own medicine
To experience the same unpleasant treatment or consequences that one has inflicted on others.
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Prescribe a course of action
To officially recommend or advise a specific plan or sequence of steps to address a situation or achieve a goal.
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Take the cure
To undergo a period of rest and recuperation, often at a health resort or spa, typically implying a somewhat indulgent stay for one's well-being.
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Green around the gills
To appear sickly, pale, and nauseated, often indicating illness or motion sickness.
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Open old wounds
To bring up past painful experiences or conflicts that have supposedly healed or been forgotten, causing renewed distress.
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Catch a bug
To become ill with a mild, often viral, infection.
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Administer a dose of reality
To confront someone with the unvarnished truth about a situation, especially when they have been overly optimistic or deluding themselves.
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Get something out of your system
To express or release a strong emotion, desire, or urge that has been bothering you, allowing you to feel relief and move on.
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Take the pulse of something
To assess the current state, mood, or opinions of a group, situation, or trend in order to understand it better.
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Put someone out of their misery
To end someone's suffering, typically by providing a swift resolution to a painful or difficult situation.
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Diagnose a problem
To identify the nature and cause of an issue or difficulty through careful analysis.
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Grey matter
The part of the brain responsible for higher cognitive functions, often used metaphorically to refer to intelligence itself.
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In good hands
To be under the care, protection, or management of someone who is competent, trustworthy, or skilled.
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Doctor's orders
A directive or recommendation from a medical professional that must be followed, often used humorously to justify an action.
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Have a bedside manner
A healthcare professional's compassionate and reassuring approach when interacting with patients.
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Kill or cure
A drastic solution or treatment that will either completely resolve a problem or cause utter failure.
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Patient zero of something
The phrase refers to the first identified case of a disease or the primary source of an outbreak, and by extension, the initial point of origin for any trend, problem, or phenomenon.
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Prescription for success
A set of recommended actions or conditions believed to guarantee a desired positive outcome.
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Apply a plaster to a gaping wound
To offer a wholly inadequate or superficial solution to a deep-seated and severe problem.
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To be a guinea pig
To be the subject of an experiment, test, or trial.
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To be immune to something
To possess natural or acquired resistance and protection against a disease, influence, or negative effect.
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Under the knife
To undergo a surgical operation or procedure.
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Snake oil
Snake oil refers to a fraudulent or ineffective remedy, product, or idea presented as beneficial or legitimate.
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Get a second wind
To experience a renewed burst of energy or enthusiasm after feeling tired or discouraged.
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Turn your stomach
To cause someone to feel extremely nauseous or deeply disgusted.
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A pain in the neck
Someone or something that is very annoying or troublesome.
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Skin and bones
To be extremely thin or emaciated, often due to illness, starvation, or intense physical exertion.
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Charley horse
A sudden, painful, involuntary muscle spasm or cramp, often occurring in the leg or thigh.
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To sugarcoat the truth
To make an unpleasant or difficult truth seem more palatable or acceptable by presenting it in a deceptively positive or less harsh way.
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Stay hydrated
To stay hydrated means to consistently drink enough water or other fluids to maintain proper bodily function and prevent dehydration.
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Breaking down proteins
The process of chemically digesting proteins into their smaller amino acid components, typically within a living organism.
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Get on my nerves
To irritate or annoy someone intensely, causing a feeling of discomfort or frustration.
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Light-headed
Feeling dizzy, faint, or as if one is about to lose consciousness.
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give someone a taste of their own medicine
To treat someone with the same unpleasantness or negativity that they have shown towards others.
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black mood
A black mood is a state of deep sadness, depression, or ill temper.
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Tough pill to swallow
Something that is difficult, unpleasant, or painful to accept or believe.
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A surgeon's precision
The ability to perform a task with extreme accuracy, meticulousness, and careful attention to detail.
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Hoarse voice
A voice that sounds rough, strained, or breathy, often due to a sore throat, overuse, or illness.
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Having a sore throat
Experiencing pain, scratchiness, or irritation of the throat, often a symptom of illness.
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Tickle in one's throat
An irritating sensation in the throat that often prompts one to cough.
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Lost your voice
To become temporarily unable to speak, typically due to illness or excessive shouting, or to feel unable to express one's opinions or be heard.
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To have a croak in one's voice
To have a croak in one's voice means to speak with a rough, hoarse, or raspy sound, often due to a sore throat, strain, or strong emotion.
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To have a sore throat
To experience pain, irritation, or scratchiness in the throat, often due to illness or infection.
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A headache
The phrase refers either to a physical pain in the head or, more commonly in an idiomatic sense, to an annoying problem or person that causes a lot of trouble and worry.
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Get on one's nerves
To irritate or annoy someone intensely, often to the point of frustration.
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A pick-me-up
A pick-me-up is a drink or item that provides a quick boost of energy, improves mood, or restores one's spirits.
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To revive
To bring someone or something back to consciousness, health, or a strong condition after a period of weakness, dormancy, or decline.
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Just what the doctor ordered
This phrase describes something that is exactly what is needed or desired, often providing a perfect solution or a welcome relief.
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To be a tonic
To be something that invigorates, refreshes, or provides a positive boost to one's well-being or spirits.
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A sugar-coated pill
Something unpleasant, difficult, or undesirable that is made to seem more attractive or acceptable.
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Things are coming to a head
A situation or conflict is reaching a critical point where a resolution or confrontation is imminent.
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Prevention is better than cure.
It is more effective and less problematic to prevent a problem from occurring than to try and remedy it after it has already happened.
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A difficult pill to swallow
It refers to an unpleasant fact or situation that is hard to accept or endure.
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Cancel the operation
This command instructs to halt a previously planned activity or complex procedure, preventing its execution.
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Pour salt on an open wound
To deliberately make someone's existing distress or pain worse, often by reminding them of it or adding to their misfortune.
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Emaciated
Extremely thin and weak, especially from illness or lack of food.
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Anorexic
Describing a person suffering from anorexia nervosa, an eating disorder characterized by an obsessive fear of gaining weight, a distorted body image, and self-starvation.
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Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food
This proverb suggests that consuming a healthy diet should be the primary method for maintaining well-being and preventing disease, emphasizing the power of nutrition over conventional medical treatments.
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To be on pins and needles
To be in a state of nervous anticipation or suspense, often accompanied by a sense of restless excitement or anxiety.
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Treating the symptom, not the cause
To deal with the immediate, visible problem without addressing the underlying fundamental issue that created it.
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Put a band-aid on it
To apply a superficial or temporary solution to a problem without addressing its underlying cause.
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To cut the cord
This phrase describes the act of separating oneself, usually an adult child, from a primary source of emotional, financial, or practical dependence, typically their parents.
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Myopic
Lacking foresight or intellectual insight, often focusing only on immediate concerns without considering long-term implications.
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To have 20/20 vision
To have 20/20 vision means to possess perfect or excellent eyesight, and by extension, a clear and accurate understanding of a situation.
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To have the gall
To possess the shocking audacity or impudence to do something that is considered rude, inappropriate, or presumptuous.
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Clean bill of health
A declaration or certification that a person or thing is in excellent health or condition, free from any problems or defects.
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To throw up
To vomit or expel the contents of one's stomach through the mouth.
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To be laid low
To be rendered weak, incapacitated, or defeated by illness, misfortune, or a powerful adversary.
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To be laid up
To be confined to bed or house due to illness or injury, or for a ship or vehicle to be out of commission for repairs.
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To be nauseous
To feel sick to one's stomach, often accompanied by an urge to vomit.
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Blood drained from their face
This phrase describes someone suddenly becoming very pale, typically due to intense fear, shock, surprise, or illness.
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White as a sheet
To look extremely pale, usually due to shock, fear, illness, or distress.
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Wasting away
To become progressively weaker, thinner, or more debilitated, often due to illness, neglect, or lack of sustenance.
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Take with a grain of salt
To view information with skepticism and not accept it as entirely true or reliable.
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Mental capacity
A person's ability to understand information, make rational decisions, and communicate them effectively.
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Growing pains
Difficulties or challenges encountered during the early stages of a new project, organization, or development.
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Nervous wreck
A person who is extremely anxious, stressed, or exhausted to the point of being unable to function properly.