English Idiom – As sick as a parrot.
Very disappointed. Nothing to do with being ill – it means you’re really upset about something that has happened.
This is a humorous British idiom. It became famous through football: players and managers interviewed after a painful defeat would often say they were “sick as a parrot”. The opposite feeling – after a win – was being over the moon!
Usage:
- Your football team loses a game they were expected to win.
- You fail an important test.
- You lose a match because of silly mistakes.
- You accidentally delete all your holiday photos!
Example:
- “That footy player must be as sick as a parrot after missing that last-minute penalty!”
As featured on Top 10 Animal Idioms!
In the News
Spotted in the news“ROYALS fans have been sick as a parrot over news that Reading Buses is unable to run its usual matchday buses this month.”rdg.todayWhat is an idiom?
An idiom is a word or phrase that is not taken literally. An idiom is an expression that cannot be understood from the meanings of its individual words, but has a separate meaning of its own.
Love animal idioms? See our full list of 50 animal idioms in English, with meanings and examples.
Frequently Asked Questions
Very disappointed. It does not mean being physically ill.
“Over the moon” – very happy. Both are famous from British football interviews.
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