LOOKING GREEN ABOUT THE GILLS Meaning and
Definition
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"Looking green about the gills" is an idiomatic expression used to describe someone who appears pale or sickly in complexion, displaying signs of nausea or illness. The phrase derives from nautical imagery, where "gills" refers to the slits on the lower side of a fish's head used for respiration, and "green" represents a sick or unwell appearance.
This expression implies that the person being described is visibly suffering from discomfort, potentially due to a variety of factors such as illness, exhaustion, or experiencing a bout of motion sickness. The individual's pallid or greenish facial coloration suggests that they may be on the verge of vomiting or feeling nauseated. The phrase can be used figuratively to describe someone who is mentally or emotionally unwell, exhibiting symptoms of anxiety or distress.
The idiom "looking green about the gills" is often employed in informal contexts, such as casual conversations or literature, to depict a person's physical or emotional state. It effectively conveys the speaker's observation or perception of someone's evident uneasiness or ill health. As an expressive figure of speech, it captures a vivid image of discomfort, making it a useful phrase to evoke sympathy, curiosity, or concern for an individual's well-being.
Common Misspellings for LOOKING GREEN ABOUT THE GILLS
- kooking green about the gills
- pooking green about the gills
- oooking green about the gills
- lioking green about the gills
- lkoking green about the gills
- lloking green about the gills
- lpoking green about the gills
- l0oking green about the gills
- l9oking green about the gills
- loiking green about the gills
- lokking green about the gills
- lolking green about the gills
- lopking green about the gills
- lo0king green about the gills
- lo9king green about the gills
- loojing green about the gills
- looming green about the gills
- looling green about the gills
- loooing green about the gills
- looiing green about the gills
