Lesson 15 · Health

Idioms about health

Learn four useful English idioms about health through slow listening, clear examples, multilingual support and retrieval practice.

LEVEL 3B1–B212 min

Meet the idioms in context

Read once for the general meaning. Then read again and notice the highlighted expressions.

Speed

0:000:00

Choose 0.50× or 0.75× for slow listening. The pitch stays natural. Voices generated with Aura-2.

Maya You look much better. Are you back on your feet?

Leo Almost. I felt run down all last week.

Maya You need time to recharge your batteries.

Leo I took the weekend off, and now I feel fit as a fiddle.

Maya Good. Don’t go straight back to working late.

Leo I won’t. I’m going to protect my energy this time.

Open your toolbox

Meaning, tone, natural grammar and a memory hook for every expression.

back on your feet

neutralspoken & writtenBrE & AmE

healthy or independent again after a difficult period

Picture it: Build a clear mental picture from “back on your feet” and connect it to this meaning: healthy or independent again after a difficult period.

She was back on her feet after a week.
The loan helped the business get back on its feet.

Common mistake: Treat “back on your feet” as a fixed expression. Notice its exact word order in the examples.

fit as a fiddle

neutralspoken & writtenBrE & AmE

very healthy and energetic

Picture it: Build a clear mental picture from “fit as a fiddle” and connect it to this meaning: very healthy and energetic.

My grandfather is eighty and fit as a fiddle.
After the rest, I felt fit as a fiddle.

Common mistake: Treat “fit as a fiddle” as a fixed expression. Notice its exact word order in the examples.

run down

neutralspoken & writtenBrE & AmE

tired and slightly unwell

Picture it: Build a clear mental picture from “run down” and connect it to this meaning: tired and slightly unwell.

I’ve been feeling run down lately.
You look run down — take the afternoon off.

Common mistake: Treat “run down” as a fixed expression. Notice its exact word order in the examples.

recharge your batteries

neutralspoken & writtenBrE & AmE

rest so that you feel energetic again

Picture it: Build a clear mental picture from “recharge your batteries” and connect it to this meaning: rest so that you feel energetic again.

I need a quiet weekend to recharge my batteries.
A short walk helps me recharge my batteries.

Common mistake: Treat “recharge your batteries” as a fixed expression. Notice its exact word order in the examples.

Idioms about health

Meet the idioms in context

Open your toolbox

back on your feet

fit as a fiddle

run down

recharge your batteries

Practise for retrieval

1 · Match the meaning

2 · Complete the sentence

3 · Choose and notice

4 · Over to you

Take the lesson with you

Lesson, practice and answer key

Dialogue and example sentences

Meet the idioms in context

Open your toolbox

back on your feet

fit as a fiddle

run down

recharge your batteries

Practise for retrieval

1 · Match the meaning

2 · Complete the sentence

3 · Choose and notice

4 · Over to you

Take the lesson with you

Lesson, practice and answer key

Dialogue and example sentences

Create your free toolbox