So, if I say "I am sick", does it actually mean I'm vomiting or I'm about to vomit? Full Member 247 Hello EyeSeeYou, actually I've never heard about this 'to be sick = to vomit', plus everytime people said to me "I'm sick" they meant: "I don't feel fine". Anyway I know that to be sick can have many other meanings when referred to something in particular as: to be sick for home (to miss home), to be sick at heart (to get disheartened) ... Maybe some native speakers could tell something more about it   Contributing Member 1,626   Yes, 'to be sick' can also mean 'to vomit' or 'feel ready to vomit'. In the latter situation, people often say 'I'm going to be sick'. Madrid, Iberian Peninsula Full Member 315In the beginning was the word. American English uses 'sick' in the general sense of ill, unwell, not British English. In British English to be sick = to vomit; to feel sick = to feel as though you are about to/likely to vomit. It doesn't apply to generally not feeling well. The name says it all. To add to Nona's post: in the UK, we'd say "I don't feel very well" or "I feel poorly" where an AmE user might say "I feel sick". If we're talking about someone else, we would say "He's off work because he's ill" or "...he's not well". So, if someone says "I'm sick" (in BrE), it literally means they are puking/vomiting right now? Full Member 247 So, if someone says "I'm sick" (in BrE), it literally means they are puking/vomiting right now?Firstly, they wouldn't really feel like saying it (or even be able to do so) at that very moment, would they? They would normally say it before, 'I'm going to be sick', or afterwards, 'I've just been sick'. Secondly, to talk about what is happening now, we need the present continuous. Therefore, we could say 'I'm being sick' (in between vomiting fits). Madrid, Iberian Peninsula Full Member 315In the beginning was the word. So, if someone says "I'm sick" (in BrE), it literally means they are puking/vomiting right now?Firstly, they wouldn't really feel like saying it (or even be able to do so) at that very moment, would they? They would normally say it before, 'I'm going to be sick', or afterwards, 'I've just been sick'. Secondly, to talk about what is happening now, we need the present continuous. Therefore, we could say 'I'm being sick' (in between vomiting fits). [/quote] First, thanks for replying. Well, to say "I'm being sick" doesn't sound idiomatic, does it? I'm pretty positive the "I'm sick" phrase is really common, hence my analitic question. I'd bet that to simply say "I'm sick" means that you've just been vomiting and are in the process of doing so in short, though I need confirmation from teachers. Full Member 247 Hi there, I'm a British Nurse and English Teacher. I write a medical English blog, so hope this helps. The link below will answer your question. Enjoy http://realmedicalenglish.blogspot.com/2011/11/sick.html New Member 02 Peter | |
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