green around the gills
Visibly about to vomit
Green around the gills describes someone who looks nauseated or unwell, as if about to vomit.
The phrase evokes the pallid, slightly greenish complexion that accompanies seasickness or a queasy stomach: He looked a little green around the gills after the boat ride.
Sometimes used figuratively for general discomfort or anxiety.
Lacking color intensity
- ashenPale, grayish-white
- wanPale and unwell-looking
- pallidUnhealthily lacking color
- sallowUnhealthily yellowish complexion
blanched · colorless · bloodless · pasty · chalky · washed-out · drained · peaked
Experiencing poor health
- ailingIn poor health
- illIn poor health
- sicklyProne to poor health
- indisposedMildly sick or unwilling
feverish · weak · faint · lightheaded · dizzy · woozy · unsteady · clammy
Mildly sick to stomach
- nauseatedFeeling urge to vomit
- sick to one's stomachExperiencing strong nausea
- biliousIll-tempered or nauseated
- retchingHeaving without expelling
gagging · heaving · queasiness · vomiting · upset stomach · stomachache · bellyache · indigestion
pale
Lacking color intensity
sallow · blanched · colorless · bloodless · pasty · chalky · washed-out · drained · peaked · jaundiced
unwell
Experiencing poor health
indisposed · feverish · weak · faint · lightheaded · dizzy · woozy · unsteady · clammy · sweaty
queasy
Mildly sick to stomach
- nauseatedFeeling urge to vomit
- sick to one's stomachExperiencing strong nausea
- biliousIll-tempered or nauseated
retching · gagging · heaving · queasiness · vomiting · upset stomach · stomachache · bellyache · indigestion · dyspepsia
- hangoverhangover, hungover, morning after, rough night, one too many
- vomitingvomit, puke, barf, throw up, throwing up
green around the gillsrosy-cheeked
Having pink-tinged face
in the pink · glowing · radiant · ruddy · bright-eyed and bushy-tailed
green around the gillsright as rain
In perfect condition
fit as a fiddle · in fine fettle · hale and hearty · fighting fit · in good shape
green, greens, greener, greenest, greenish, greenery, greening, gills, gilled