a passing sickness

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a passing sickness" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an illness that is temporary or not severe, suggesting that it will soon be resolved. Example: "After a week of feeling unwell, I realized it was just a passing sickness and I would be back to normal soon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

In particular, I do hope that news of acute morning sickness is a passing rather than permanent concern.

Independent

A relative who washed Ms. Nyuma's body fell ill and died, passing the sickness to her mother, who then infected her daughter-in-law, Mamie Lebbie, a mother of two young children, according to Ms. Lebbie and other relatives.

The New York Times - Health

Morning sickness is caused by a large amount of reproductive hormones circulating during the first trimester; luckily once that passes, the sickness subsides and you can get back to normal eating habits.

The Guardian

Galdamez admits that he, too, washed dishes while ill, knowing that he could easily pass his sickness on to co-workers as well as diners.

Huffington Post

"Like a doctor understands a sickness," one says, to laughter.

The Guardian

This is a disease, it is a sickness".

The Guardian

It's like a sickness, an Ebola".

BBC

It was a sickness, an emotional plague.

HuffPost

But you tell me, from the time I left my house, all the way to the hospital, if my child doesn't pass urine then wouldn't that be a sickness?

BMC Health Services Research

Drugs are a fucking sickness.

The New Yorker

"It's a cultural sickness," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a passing sickness" to describe an illness or ailment that is expected to resolve quickly and without lasting effects. This phrase is suitable for both formal and informal contexts when you want to convey the temporary nature of the health issue.

Common error

Avoid using "a passing sickness" to describe potentially serious conditions that require immediate medical attention, even if they are expected to be of short duration. The phrase can minimize the perceived severity of the illness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a passing sickness" functions as a noun phrase, where 'passing' acts as an adjective modifying 'sickness'. It describes a temporary or non-serious illness, aligning with Ludwig's analysis.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a passing sickness" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that describes a temporary illness. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriateness for conveying the idea that an ailment is not serious or long-lasting. While not exceptionally frequent, it is versatile enough for both formal and informal contexts. Related phrases include "a temporary illness" and "a brief ailment". When using the phrase, be mindful of potentially downplaying serious conditions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a temporary illness

Replaces 'passing' with 'temporary' emphasizing the short duration of the illness.

a brief ailment

Substitutes 'sickness' with 'ailment' and 'passing' with 'brief', indicating a minor and short-lived health issue.

a short-lived illness

Replaces 'passing' with 'short-lived' highlighting the limited duration of the illness.

a fleeting sickness

Uses 'fleeting' instead of 'passing' to emphasize the transient nature of the sickness.

a transient ailment

Employs 'transient' as a more formal synonym for 'passing', indicating a temporary health problem.

a momentary illness

Replaces 'passing' with 'momentary', focusing on the brief duration of the illness.

a mild sickness

Focuses on the severity (mildness) of the sickness rather than its duration, while still implying it is not serious.

a short-term sickness

Uses 'short-term' instead of 'passing', highlighting the limited time frame of the sickness.

a non-chronic illness

Highlights that the illness is not chronic, implying it's temporary by contrasting it with long-lasting conditions.

a curable sickness

Focuses on the treatability of the sickness implying that the term will be over soon.

FAQs

How can I use "a passing sickness" in a sentence?

You can use "a passing sickness" to describe a temporary illness, such as "I thought I had the flu, but it was just "a passing sickness"".

What's the difference between "a passing sickness" and "a chronic illness"?

"A passing sickness" refers to a temporary health issue, while "a chronic illness" is a long-term or recurring condition. The key difference is the duration and expected resolution.

What can I say instead of "a passing sickness"?

You can use alternatives like "a temporary illness", "a brief ailment", or "a short-lived illness" depending on the context.

Is "a passing sickness" formal or informal?

"A passing sickness" is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives like "a transient ailment" may be preferred in highly formal settings.