Green Around the Gills
“Green around the gills” - Looking ill; sick to one’s stomach.
A green complexion has signified illness since about 1300, and “rosy about the gills” has meant being in good health since the late seventeenth century. Sir Francis Bacon used “red about the gills” to signify anger (1626), whereas in the nineteenth century “white” and “yellow about the gills” meant looking ill. However, green won out and survives in the present-day cliché.
Related and Similar Terms:
- As pale as a ghost: Extremely pale, signifying fear or sickness.
- Looking under the weather: Feeling ill.
- Sick as a dog: Extremely ill.
- Feeling blue: Feeling sad or depressed (though not necessarily sick).
- Peaky: Looking pale or worn out.
Synonyms:
- Ill
- Nauseous
- Unwell
- Queasy
- Sickly
Antonyms:
- Healthy
- Robust
- Vigorous
- Rosy
- Vibrant
Humor-filled Quotes:
- “He looked as green as a garden salad after that rollercoaster ride.”
- “Feeling green around the gills after the office potluck? Time to revisit those cooking skills!”
Proverbs:
- “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” (Health and well-being often relate to emotional state)
- “Health is wealth.”
References:
Literature:
- Shakespeare often referred to characters’ complexions to denote emotional states or health. For example, Julius Caesar’s “Yon Cassius has a lean and hungry look.”
Books:
- Sick and Tired: Healing the Illnesses that Plague Us by Dr. Robert Sawyer
Songs:
- “Sick and Tired” by Anastacia
Movies:
- Ferris Bueller’s Day Off - The iconic line: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
Poetry:
- Emily Dickinson’s “Pain — expands the Time —”: This poem beautifully captures the sluggish, all-consuming nature of pain and sickness.
### Which of these phrases means looking ill?
- [x] Green around the gills
- [ ] Rosy about the gills
- [ ] Feeling perkier than a pine
- [ ] Red as a tomato
> **Explanation:** "Green around the gills" signifies looking ill. The others either don't exist or indicate health or anger.
### Which phrase is a 17th-century expression for being in good health?
- [x] Rosy about the gills
- [ ] Green as kale
- [ ] Pale as a ghost
- [ ] Laughing like a hyena
> **Explanation:** "Rosy about the gills" meant being in good health in the late 17th century.
### True or False: "Under the weather" means feeling nauseous.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** To be "under the weather" is a common expression meaning to feel ill or unwell.
Inspirational Farewell: A vibrant life sometimes sees us “green around the gills,” but it’s these shades of experience that remind us of our resilience. Until our next linguistic adventure, stay curious and colorful! 👋
Happy reading, Lexi Lingo
