he took sick

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he took sick" is correct and usable in written English, though it is somewhat archaic.
It can be used to indicate that someone became ill, often in a more formal or literary context. Example: "After the long journey, he took sick and had to rest for several days."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

But he took sick with dysentery & had to return home.

The New Yorker

Mr. Sheetrit, a member of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's rightist Likud party, recalled with obvious affection how when he took sick after a meeting a few years ago with a Palestinian delegation in Italy, Mr. Barghouti came to his hotel room and sat up with him until 4 a.m.

The New York Times

His last job was as a ticket taker at the AMC movie theaters in Century City, where he worked until he took sick on Christmas Eve.

Los Angeles Times

He took sick picking cotton to scrounge a bit of food for his young son, who sobs in "a croaking monotone": "He ain't et for six days.... Said he weren't hungry, or jus' et. Give me the food.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Soon he takes sick, can't walk, and vomits blood.

The New Yorker

And on the trip he takes sick from this virus you never heard of and goes into a coma.

The New Yorker

Eventually she took sick leave, and went on holiday to try to de-stress and recover.

The Guardian - Books

Just before she took sick leave she experienced some problems with her managerial role.

BMC Public Health

He said pregnant officers generally took sick leave about a month before their due dates.

The New York Times

He added that men often took sick days and vacation time after their children were born, instead of taking parental leave.

The New York Times

Captain MacKinnon took sick the next month and he was relieved by Captain W. B. Mackenzie on 25 February.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "he took sick", ensure the context is appropriate, such as historical narratives or literary works where older phrasing is fitting.

Common error

Avoid relying heavily on phrases like "he took sick" in modern contexts, as it can make your writing seem out of touch or unintentionally formal. Opt for more current alternatives unless you're aiming for a specific stylistic effect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he took sick" functions as a simple declarative statement indicating that a male subject has become ill. Ludwig confirms its correct usage, fitting primarily into narrative contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he took sick" is a grammatically sound but somewhat archaic way to express that someone became ill. According to Ludwig, while correct, it's less common in contemporary English, with alternatives like "he became ill" or "he fell sick" being more prevalent. Its usage is primarily found in news and media, as well as in scientific contexts. When writing, consider the desired tone and audience to determine if this older phrasing is appropriate, as it might sound unusual in modern communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he became ill

Replaces "took sick" with a more common and modern expression.

he fell ill

Uses "fell ill" as a common substitute for becoming sick.

he got sick

Employs "got sick", a more casual way to express illness.

he was taken ill

Uses the passive voice to describe the onset of illness.

he was stricken with illness

Adds emphasis by using "stricken with illness", implying a sudden onset.

he succumbed to illness

Suggests a yielding to sickness, potentially after a struggle.

he experienced sickness

A slightly more clinical or detached way of stating he became sick.

he contracted a disease

Specifies the acquisition of a disease, making the illness more concrete.

he suffered an ailment

More formal, uses "ailment" to refer to a minor illness.

illness befell him

An old-fashioned and literary way of saying someone became sick.

FAQs

What does the phrase "he took sick" mean?

The phrase "he took sick" means that someone became ill. It is an older, somewhat archaic way of saying that a person got sick or fell ill.

What can I say instead of "he took sick"?

You can use alternatives like "he became ill", "he fell sick", or "he got sick" depending on the context. These are more common in modern English.

Is "he took sick" grammatically correct?

Yes, "he took sick" is grammatically correct, although it is considered an older or more formal way of expressing illness. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

In what contexts is "he took sick" most appropriate?

The phrase "he took sick" is most appropriate in historical narratives, literary works aiming for an old-fashioned tone, or when trying to evoke a specific regional dialect. In most contemporary contexts, alternatives are preferred.