Sick as a parrot

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Meaning

Deeply upset or disappointed, down low.

Origin

From 20th-century Britain, tied to 1970s slang; 'parrot' for sick, possibly from a 1971 TV quip on a football loss. Parrots, exotic and droopy when ill, fit; it reflects a Monty Python nod and fan woes.

Variants

  • As a parrot

Usage Examples

  • He's sick as a parrot; team lost again.
  • Sick as a parrot; she missed the show.
  • I'm sick as a parrot about that news.

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