Idiomatic expressions

1. Take turn for a better /worse

2. A man’s health is failing.

3. A man’s health is picking up.

4. He is doing well, he is on the mend, he is over the worst/

5. To get over the/ an illness.

6. To ruin one’ s health.

7. To feel /be/ look/ washed out.

8. To feel /be/ look/ run down.

9. To run /be running a temperature.

10. To fall ill (with a disease) go down with /be down with a disease.

11. To be laid up with.

12. To pass away, to depart this life.

13. To die a natural death, to die of heart attack, to commit suicide.

Vocabulary exercises

The words usually confused:

Illness – disease

“Illness” is the state of being ill;” disease” refers to a particular kind of illness with special symptoms and name.

Pain – ache

“Pain “ refers to suffering of body. It is sharp and sudden;

“ Ache “ means a continuous pain.

Cure – heal –treat

“Cure “ means to bring back to health;” heal” means to make healthy after wounds of any kind; “Treat “ means to take care of with medicines

1. Ill, sick

1) The nurse mixed the medicine with a teaspoon and gave it to the … man who sat up in bed to take it .2. When people are … and have a temperature of 39 degrees we say they are in a high fever.3) when I got on board a ship or a boat, I felt … . 4) He was suddenly taken…

2. illness, sickness, disease

1) What did the man die of? Did he suffer from chronic …or complications after serious….?2) The… was catching, and the doctor said he would put me on sick list. 3) Scarlet fever is a catching….4) His …prevented him from going to school together with his friends.

3. treat, cure

After scarlet fever complications developed, and they had to be … for a month before the patient was completely ……2) The open-air life in the mountain….him of headaches. 3) The doctor said that if I followed his instructions I should be … of the disease.

4. cure, heal

1) Fresh air, sunshine, good food may … a patient of consumption by…… his lungs.2) After a fortnight of slight fever, the wound…. and he recovered.3) The doctor applied a medicine which soon … the deep cut in my arm.

5. ache ,pain, hurt

1) As he was coming home a sudden …. in his heart made him stop and lean against the wall of a house.2) Wet weather often makes old people feel an… in their bones. 3) He fell down the stairs and …his leg. 4) This heavy suitcase makes my arm….

5) Did you … yourself?

1. Make your choice of the words in italics.

2. To work well you must be healthy / ill.

3. It’s not healthy to be slim / stout.

4. A temperature is another word for illness / fever.

5. The doctor feels your pulse / temperature.

6. When something irritates your throat you have to cough / sneeze.

7. When something tickles inside your nose you have to sneeze / cough.

8. I can’t stand the pain. It’s very sharp / dull.

9. I think I’ve got flu / food poisoning. The weather was so wet these days.

10. When the doctor knows the symptoms he gives his diagnosis / medical insurance.

11. When you have recovered we say that the doctor has cured / treated you.

12. When you are seriously ill you are taken to a hospital / health center.

2. Find the proper definitions for the words.

Disease ailment malady sickness illness

1. The state of being sick / ill health / inclination to vomit / stomach distress.

2. The state or condition of being sick, whether in body or mind.

3. Disease / physical disorder.

4. A particular kind of illness with special symptoms and name.

5. Disease / illness (also social / spiritual).

2. Fill the gaps with suitable words.

1. If you want to find out someone’s temperature, use a ………. .

2. Please don’t cough all over everyone! Don’t forget that a cold is ………. . As it is a virus, there is no ………. for it.

3. I hurt my wrist yesterday playing football and today it’s ………. .

4. I had to wait three-quarters of an hour in the doctor’s ………. .

5. I went to the doctor about my insomnia and she prescribed some ………. .

6. The main symptom of hay fever is that you keep ………. .

7. It was quite a bad cut and it was bleeding a lot, so I put on a ………. .

8. I think he’s broken his leg! Quick, someone call an ………. .

9. If someone is seriously ill they need to go to hospital to have an ………. .

10. I hate going to the dentist – I’ve got to have two ………. done.

11. If you want to stay fit, don’t eat too much and take plenty of ………. .

12. Her mother sent her to bed because she had a ………. .

13. He was ten kilos overweight and was advised to go on a ………. .

14. You’ve eaten too much, that’s why you have a pain in your ………. .

15. Oh, dear. I feel awful. I think I’m going to ………. .

2. Choose the best alternative to fill each of the gaps in the next sentences.

1. She was in terrible pain, so the nurse gave her…

an injection/ scratch/ stab/ vaccine/ wound.

2. If you’ve got measles, your skin is covered in ……….

Blots/ dots/ freckles/ spots / stains.

3. Why not take up tennis? It’ll help you to keep fit and it’s a great ………. Amusement/ game/ match/ play/ tournament.

4. He didn’t feel like going to the party because he had a terrible ………. disease/ headache/ homesickness/infection/ nostalgia.