sick in bed

USAGE SUMMARY

"sick in bed" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone who is not well and has to stay in bed. For example: "The flu got the best of me and I've been sick in bed for the past two days."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

My husband was sick in bed.

The New York Times

I was 10, and sick in bed.

The Guardian - Music

"Sick in bed today," writes one.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

We found Dore at home, sick in bed.

The New Yorker

"I was always sick in bed," he said.

The New York Times

I am sick in bed with typhoid fever.

The New Yorker

When the cholera epidemic hit and I was sick in bed, you were there.

The New Yorker

The other day, when he was sick in bed wearing red pajamas, I visited him.

The New Yorker

For several episodes his wife Hilda said Stan was sick in bed upstairs at no 13.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

In 1941 when she was 7 she was sick in bed with pneumonia.

The New York Times - Books

Jeff explained that his girlfriend, Sonja, was sick in bed, recovering from an adenoidectomy.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience; while generally acceptable, more formal alternatives might be appropriate in professional or academic writing.

Common error

Avoid using "sick in bed" to describe someone with a long-term or permanent illness. It implies a temporary state, so use more appropriate terms like "bedridden" or "incapacitated" for chronic conditions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sick in bed" functions primarily as a descriptive phrase, indicating a state of being unwell and requiring rest. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used. It modifies an implied subject, typically a person, specifying their condition and location.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "sick in bed" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe someone who is unwell and needs to stay in bed to recover. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and wide usage. Analysis reveals it's most frequently found in news and media contexts, serving to inform about someone's health status or explain their absence. While generally neutral in tone, more formal alternatives might be suitable for professional writing. Remember to reserve /s/sick+in+bed for temporary illnesses, using other more appropriate terms like "bedridden" for chronic situations. You can also use "confined to bed with illness" or "down with an illness" as alternatives depending on the context you are using it.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

confined to bed with illness

Replaces "sick" with "illness" and specifies the confinement to bed due to the condition.

down with an illness

Replaces "sick in bed" with the more concise phrase "down with an illness".

laid up with sickness

Uses the idiom "laid up" to indicate being bedridden due to sickness.

recuperating in bed

Focuses solely on the recuperation aspect, implying illness without directly stating it.

recovering from illness in bed

Focuses on the recovery aspect while maintaining the location in bed.

unwell and resting in bed

Substitutes "sick" with "unwell" and uses "resting" instead of directly stating illness.

invalid in bed

Uses "invalid" to describe someone chronically ill and bedridden.

indisposed and confined to bed

Employs more formal language like "indisposed" to express illness.

out of action due to sickness

Uses a more general expression "out of action" to describe the inability to function normally due to sickness.

hors de combat due to illness

Uses the french expression to indicate that one is unable to fight or participate because of illness.

FAQs

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

You can use "sick in bed" to describe someone who is ill and confined to their bed, for example: "I was "sick in bed" all day with the flu."

What is a more formal alternative to "sick in bed"?

More formal alternatives include "confined to bed due to illness" or "recuperating in bed". These options are suitable for professional or academic writing where a less casual tone is preferred.

Is it appropriate to use "sick in bed" to describe someone with a chronic illness?

No, "sick in bed" typically implies a temporary condition. For chronic illnesses, consider using terms like "bedridden" or "incapacitated", as they more accurately reflect the long-term nature of the condition.

What's the difference between "sick in bed" and /s/resting+in+bed?

"Sick in bed" implies that someone is unwell and needs to stay in bed to recover. /s/resting+in+bed on the other hand, suggests someone is simply relaxing or taking a break, not necessarily due to illness.