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Processed with VS1Recognize everyday expressions for intense head pain, losing consciousness, and gradually recovering.
VOA source audio
Source: VOA Learning English · Words and Their Stories
View original article & transcriptMany expressions in the episode are already taught in other pages. This lesson selects three different phrases: a vivid description of a severe headache, an informal phrase for being unconscious, and a phrasal verb for recovering after illness or difficulty.
Cultural note: These expressions are not medical assessments. “Out cold” can describe unconsciousness and should be used carefully; if someone is unresponsive, seek appropriate emergency help rather than relying on an idiom.
Keep exploringSome health idioms describe intensity, while another can signal a gradual return to normal.
Phrase guide · 3 expressions
Original explanations and examples, created for learners. Save a card for later or hear the phrase spoken by your browser.
A vivid, informal way to describe strong head pain.
Meaning
A very severe headache.
Tone & use
Informal exaggeration that describes how painful it feels; it does not identify a cause or diagnosis.
Example
“After the long flight, I had a splitting headache and needed a quiet room.”
Understand a phrase for unconsciousness without minimizing a serious situation.
Meaning
Unconscious, or—in casual contexts—sleeping very deeply.
Tone & use
Use carefully because it may describe a serious medical emergency. In a light context, make clear that the person is simply asleep.
Example
“After the overnight shift, he was out cold on the sofa—but his family checked that he was breathing normally.”
Describe improvement after illness or a difficult period.
Meaning
Getting better after an illness, injury, or setback.
Tone & use
Informal and encouraging, but it is not a substitute for a clinician’s assessment of someone’s health.
Example
“The garden is on the mend after weeks of careful attention and steady rain.”
Knowledge check
Choose the expression that best fits each situation.
Try it · Choose the best expression
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