Saying you’re disappointed has nothing to do with parrots so why does this phrase compare it to being as sick as a parrot? Are you as confused as Neil? Luckily, Jiaying can explain it in this episode of The English We Speak.
Jiaying
Welcome to The English We Speak. I’m Jiaying…
Neil
….and hello, I’m Neil. Jiaying, are you feeling OK today?
Jiaying
Yes, I’m fine thanks. Why are you asking?
Neil
Well, when we spoke yesterday you said you were ‘as sick as a parrot’.
Jiaying
I wasn’t ill! When someone says they are as sick as a parrot they mean they are very disappointed about something. I was saying how disappointed I was with the outcome of the football match – my team lost!
Neil
Oh I see – but why were you watching the football match with a sick parrot? I didn’t know you had one.
Jiaying
I haven’t got one, Neil – but I was very disappointed.
Neil
I’m sure – but I didn’t know parrots liked football as well.
Jiaying
Oh, Neil! Listen to these examples and will become clear.
Examples
I was as sick as a parrot when I saw someone had scratched my new car!
He was as sick as a parrot when he saw how much litter had been left in the park.
When I heard my colleague got a promotion over me, I was as sick as a parrot.
Jiaying
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English and we’re hearing about the phrase ‘as sick as a parrot’, which we can use when we are very disappointed about something. So, Neil, have you got it now – there are no parrots, it’s just a saying.
Neil
Got it! No parrots.
Jiaying
Exactly – just great disappointment.
Neil
But I wonder how sick a parrot has to be in order to feel disappointment?
Jiaying
Let’s not worry about it. The phrase has got nothing to do with sickness.
Neil
OK then. See you later.
Jiaying
Bye, Neil.
What changes do you want to make?
Do you like receiving presents?
A phrase about just doing enough.
A phrase about encouragement
A quick-thinking phrase
Don’t take this phrase literally!
An easy phrase for an easy win!
Are you crazy with excitement about the World Cup?
A phrase for boring times
A phrase about good organisation
You need to learn this messy phrase
A phrase to describe a good situation
A phrase worth looking at.
Stop! You need to learn this expression.
Can you guess what this phrase is about?
Here’s a phrase about learning more details about something
Not all answers in life are ‘yes’ or ‘no’!
Learn a phrase about being wrong
Don’t get too irritated!
A random phrase
A word for something disgusting
A phrase to give encouragement
Is this phrase easy to learn?
A phrase about doing something immediately
Here’s a way to respond to good news
Learn a phrase about extra effort
A phrase about determination
Is this a phrase to get excited by?
A phrase about forgetting something
New job, new word!
A Shakespearean phrase for when there’s more to something than you think
Are you ready to feel like a king or a queen?
Learn an agreeable phrase
Learn a phrase about being unoriginal
Learn an unlikely phrase
Learn an imprecise phrase
Is this an unattractive phrase?!
Is a promise a promise?
Have you seen this phrase?
Learn a phrase that is good and bad at the same time.
When will be ‘that day’?
What’s gathering dust in your house?
This phrase shouldn’t be complicated!
A mysterious phrase!
Don’t let this phrase confuse you
Don’t ignore this phrase
Who’s cramping your style?
Do you know someone who is hip and trendy?
Learn a simple phrase
A phrase about disappointment
Don’t waste this phrase!
Do you get me?
For a better experience please enable Javascript in your browser
