Down with an illness
Meaning
To be suffering from an illness, often implying a state of being bedridden or otherwise incapacitated.
Origin
The phrase "down with an illness" draws its imagery from the physical state of being overcome and laid low by sickness. Imagine a person literally "down" in bed, prostrated by fever or weakness, unable to stand or go about their daily tasks. This sense of being brought low, of having one's energy and capacity for activity diminished and suppressed, solidified into common usage by the 19th century, vividly capturing the experience of illness as a force that grounds you, pinning you "down" until recovery allows you to rise again.
Examples
- She couldn't attend the party because she was down with an illness, likely the flu.
- The entire household seemed to be down with an illness, one after another catching the same persistent cough.