dangerously sick

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "dangerously sick" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is very ill, to the point where their health is at serious risk. Example: "After the accident, he was dangerously sick and required immediate medical attention."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Other refugee children who remain in the community are also refusing to eat and drink, but are not receiving intensive medical care "because RPC1 is full of dangerously sick kids", a Nauru source said earlier this month.

The Guardian

ASJ: But I guess there's another side of this, too, that the puppies from the mills are often dangerously sick when you take them home and prone to all kinds of life-threatening problems early in life.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Being able to tolerate the anxiety that accompanies taking care of people who are sick but not dangerously ill is not a skill I was expecting to need when I decided to become a doctor, but it is one of the ones I have worked hardest to develop".

The New Yorker

Dangerously ill.

The Guardian

During the assignment, Crane became dangerously ill.

The New Yorker

Mr Evans was dangerously ill.

BBC

Rather stormy for four days but not dangerously ill.

Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research

Something in the food had made Ms. Duffy sick, dangerously so.

The New Yorker

A common dose of blood pressure medicine might render an already sick patient dangerously hypotensive.

The New York Times

Of the arrested, people say, "But your husband must have done something; they don't just kill someone for no reason!" Starving, sick and dangerously depressed, the Klemperers stumble on, unable to comprehend Germany's endurance when the war is so obviously lost.

The New York Times - Books

Their sick minds are dangerously inferior.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a medical situation, use "dangerously sick" to emphasize the urgency and potential life-threatening nature of the illness.

Common error

Avoid using "dangerously sick" in casual conversation or humorous contexts, as it can sound overly dramatic or insensitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "dangerously sick" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun (usually a person or animal) to indicate the severity of their illness. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is suitable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "dangerously sick" is a grammatically sound adjective phrase used to describe a state of severe illness that poses a significant threat to health. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English. While not exceedingly common, with a frequency categorized as 'uncommon', it frequently appears in news and media contexts where conveying the severity of a medical condition is crucial. For alternative phrasing, consider "critically ill" or "severely unwell", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Remember to reserve "dangerously sick" for situations where the risk to health is genuinely high to avoid misinterpretation or sounding overly dramatic.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

critically ill

Focuses on the severity of the illness, implying an immediate threat to life.

gravely ill

Emphasizes the serious and concerning nature of the sickness.

severely unwell

Highlights the intensity and negative impact of the sickness on well-being.

in critical condition

Describes the patient's state in a medical setting, indicating a high risk.

life-threateningly ill

Explicitly states the illness poses a threat to the person's life.

perilously sick

Highlights the dangerous and risky nature of the person's illness.

dangerously unwell

A more general term indicating sickness with an element of danger.

extremely sick

A simpler term, emphasizing the intensity of the sickness without directly implying danger.

at death's door

An idiomatic expression indicating a very close proximity to death due to illness.

seriously sick

A broad term indicating a significant degree of illness.

FAQs

What does "dangerously sick" mean?

The phrase "dangerously sick" describes someone who is extremely ill and whose health is at serious risk. It implies that the person's condition could be life-threatening.

Are there alternative phrases I can use instead of "dangerously sick"?

Yes, depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "critically ill", "gravely ill", or "severely unwell".

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "dangerously sick"?

It is appropriate to use "dangerously sick" when you want to emphasize the severity and potential life-threatening nature of someone's illness. It's often used in medical or serious contexts.

Is "dangerously sick" the same as "seriously sick"?

While both phrases indicate a significant degree of illness, "dangerously sick" implies a higher level of risk and potential for life-threatening complications compared to "seriously sick".