left sick

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "left sick" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in informal contexts to describe someone who has been abandoned or neglected in a state of illness or discomfort. Example: "After the argument, she felt left sick and alone, struggling to cope with her emotions."

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

It's named after the French author, who was left sick and dizzy by the vast amount of art he viewed on an 1817 visit to the city.

The Guardian - Travel

But a fellow of the American Institute of Architects, who gets up at 3 20 every morning and has left sick children at home, is not going to discuss something as inconsequential as clothing.

The New York Times

The last round that night was one of the most remarkable and emotional I have witnessed in more than 30 years of ringside appearances; a "star is born" moment of joyous cliches as grown men wept and Kindelan was left sick as a parrot.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The clear liquid could still make healthy tobacco leaves sick.

The New York Times - Science

Everyone must soldier on, leaving sick days to those with less important things to do.

The New York Times

Clarify such things as vacation leave, sick leave, pay schedules, and any other immediate relevance.

WikiHow

The entitlement to sick leave, sick pay and sickness benefits, and the duration and replacement level of the compensations, vary considerably between the welfare states.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

Seeing slavery at first hand left him sick.

The New Yorker

Individuals are defined as being on sick leave when receiving full sick leave benefits, on partial sick leave when receiving sick leave benefits graded below 100%% and on disability pension when receiving disability pension on unlimited terms.

BMC Public Health

For annual leave, sick leave, something to better my life for my son and my grandson.

The Guardian - Opinion

Traditional jobs give entitlements – annual leave, sick leave, superannuation and more – that owner-operators can't give themselves.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "left sick", ensure the context clearly indicates both the abandonment and the state of illness to avoid ambiguity. For example, clarify who or what "left" the person sick (e.g., "the company left him sick and without benefits").

Common error

Avoid implying that the act of leaving directly caused the illness, unless that is explicitly the case. Saying "they left him sick" could mistakenly suggest they made him ill, rather than abandoning him while he was already sick. Instead, clarify the sequence of events: "He became sick, and they left him."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "left sick" primarily functions as a descriptive phrase, indicating a state of being (sick) combined with an action (left). This usage highlights a situation where someone is abandoned while in a state of illness. Ludwig indicates that this phrase may sound informal.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "left sick" is used to describe a situation where someone is abandoned while they are ill. While grammatically acceptable, it isn't very common, with only a few examples found across various source types, including news, scientific and formal documents. According to Ludwig, this phrase may sound informal. Related phrases such as "abandoned while ill" or "deserted in sickness" offer more clarity or formality. When using "left sick", it's important to ensure the context clearly indicates both the act of abandonment and the state of being ill to avoid ambiguity. The most frequent sources for this phrase include The New York Times, The Guardian and BBC.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was unwell and abandoned

Simply combines the state of being unwell with the action of being abandoned.

was abandoned to illness

Highlights that the person was abandoned specifically to their illness.

was deserted in sickness

Highlights the condition of sickness during abandonment.

was forsaken when ill

Uses "forsaken" to intensify the sense of abandonment.

was abandoned while ill

Emphasizes both the illness and the act of being deserted.

was neglected while ailing

Replaces "sick" with "ailing" and "left" with "neglected", stressing lack of care.

became unwell

Focuses on the onset of illness rather than abandonment.

contracted an illness and was deserted

Emphasizes the contraction of illness leading to desertion.

fell ill and was abandoned

Separates the events of falling ill and being abandoned.

became ill and was left alone

Focuses on the isolation experienced due to illness.

FAQs

How can I use "left sick" in a sentence?

You can use "left sick" to describe someone who was abandoned while ill. For example, "The company "left sick" employees without proper healthcare after the factory closure".

What are some alternatives to saying someone was "left sick"?

Alternatives include "abandoned while ill", "deserted in sickness", or "neglected while ailing", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "left sick"?

While not the most formal phrasing, ""left sick"" is generally acceptable in informal contexts. However, more formal writing might benefit from clearer phrasing like "abandoned while ill".

What's the difference between "left sick" and "abandoned to illness"?

"Left sick" generally implies a simpler abandonment while ill, whereas "abandoned to illness" emphasizes that the person was specifically left to suffer the consequences of their illness without support.