Here you will learn English phrasal verbs about health: to pick something up, to shake off, to throw up, to keel over, to take something up and more.
This is Harry and welcome to my English learning website where I try to develop your English speaking skills and help you with your understanding of the English language.
List of health phrasal verbs
speak better english - podcast episode 136
Harry
20 English Phrasal Verbs about Health
In this lesson, we’ll be looking at phrasal verbs about health, with a focus on more advanced examples. While some of these phrasal verbs can be used in other situations, we’ll be concentrating on how they relate specifically to health.
I’ve put together a shortlist of twenty key phrasal verbs, along with simple examples to help you understand their meanings and how to use them. By the end, you’ll have a clearer understanding of how to apply these phrases in your own conversations.
20 English Phrasal Verbs about Health
to get over something
Meaning: to recover from an illness or condition
Example:
After a tough couple of weeks, she finally got over COVID and went back to her normal routine.
I’m glad to see that Mary got over the flu. It was really bad, but she’s feeling a lot better now.
How’s your father? Did he get over the shingles? I heard it’s very painful.
to come / go down with something
Meaning: to start becoming sick or showing symptoms of an illness
Example:
I think I’ve come down with the flu, so I’ll have to give the party a miss.
He’s gone down with an illness and won’t be able to play the match tomorrow. Can you find someone else?
to get through something
Meaning: to deal with and recover from a difficult or prolonged illness or medical condition
Examples:
He coughed and sneezed a lot, had no appetite, and took his medicine, but finally, he got through it.
I’ll get through it somehow. Everyone else has. I’m not the only one who’s suffered from it.
to pick something up
Meaning: to catch or contract an illness, usually something minor like a cold or virus
Example:
I’ve been travelling a lot lately, and you’re bound to pick up something on the plane.
I think I need to see a doctor about my foot. Looks like I picked up a fungal infection at the pool.
to shake off
Meaning: to recover from or get rid of an illness or feeling.
Examples:
After two weeks of rest, she finally shook off that nasty cold.
He can’t seem to shake off the jet lag after his long trip.
improve english on a budget
Online English Courses from €7.99
to cut something out
Meaning: to stop consuming or doing something that may be harmful or unhealthy
Example:
You’re a bit overweight and your blood pressure is high. You need to cut out salty and processed foods.
My doctor advised me to cut out sugar to improve my overall health.
Also it might be an operation where the doctor has to remove something, for example, to cut out the appendix
Example:
If you got an inflamed appendix, the doctor might suggest to cut it out.
to take something up
Meaning: to start doing something regularly, often a hobby or activity, but here related to health, meaning to start a routine or habit
Example:
The doctor suggested I take up swimming to improve my lung capacity.
She’s taken up meditation to help manage her stress levels.
to cut down on something
Meaning: to reduce the amount of something, usually to improve health or well-being
Example:
If you’re drinking more than four units of alcohol per week, you need to cut it down.
I’m trying to cut down on meat, so now I only eat it five times a week instead of seven.
to pass out
Meaning: to faint; to lose consciousness
Examples:
He passed out at the sight of a needle.
She felt dizzy and nearly passed out from the heat during the hike.
It was so warm in the room, I thought I was going to pass out.
*to swoon – to pass out or faint, usually due to strong emotions or physical weakness
20 English Phrasal Verbs about Health
Share! Help other students to improve English skills.
to come round
Meaning: to regain consciousness
Example:
She came round eventually when the anaesthetic wore off.
After a few minutes, she came round and started to feel better.
to fight off
Meaning: to resist or struggle to overcome something, like an illness
Example:
He’s been fighting off a cold all week but still managed to go to work.
She’s taking vitamins to help fight off any flu bugs this season.
to clog up
Meaning: to block or become blocked, usually referring to arteries or airways in a health context
Example:
His arteries were starting to clog up due to years of unhealthy eating.
The sinuses clog up quickly during allergy season, making it hard to breathe.
to keel over
Meaning: to collapse or faint, often suddenly
Example:
One day her husband just keeled over with a heart attack.
He keeled over from exhaustion during the marathon.
to throw up
Meaning: to vomit
Example:
If you think you’re going to throw up, you should go to the bathroom.
He can’t go to work today, he’s been throwing up all night.
20 English Phrasal Verbs about Health
Share! Help other students to improve English skills.
to swell up
Meaning: a part of the body to become larger, typically due to injury, infection, or an allergic reaction
Example:
My ankle swelled up after the fall, but icing it helped bring down the swelling.
My arm swelled up from the mosquito bite, but it went down after a few hours.
to wear off
Meaning: when the effects of something, like medication or anesthesia, gradually disappear
Example:
The painkillers wore off after a few hours, and he started feeling the discomfort again.
Her drowsiness wore off by midday, and she felt more alert.
to go round
Meaning: when something, especially an illness, is spreading among people
Example:
There’s a nasty stomach bug going round the office, so be careful.
The flu has been going round the school, and many students are off sick.
to let up
Meaning: to become less severe or stop gradually, often referring to symptoms or pain
Example:
The headache didn’t let up all day, making it hard for him to concentrate.
Once the fever let up, she started to feel a bit more like herself.
book your trial English Lesson
to pull through
Meaning: to recover from a serious illness or difficult situation
Example:
Despite the complications, the doctors are confident he’ll pull through.
It was a rough surgery, but she pulled through and is on the mend.
to dose up (on/with)
Meaning: to take a lot of medication or a particular treatment to help fight an illness
Example:
He dosed up on painkillers before the surgery to manage the discomfort.
She’s been dosed up with antibiotics to fight off the infection.
to come out in something
Meaning: when a rash or spots appear on the skin due to illness or an allergic reaction
Example:
After eating shellfish, he came out in a rash that covered his arms.
She came out in spots all over her face after using the new skincare cream.
So there are English phrasal verbs about health. Hopefully you enjoyed that.
Be sure to look out for the Easy Peasy English learning club here. It’s a very effective, efficient and cheap way for you to improve your English kills. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask.
Join me again soon.
speak better English with Harry podcast- episode 505
More information
For more information on English grammar rules, English collocations and English idioms, check out the links below:
Phrasal verbs about Natural Disasters
