To be queasy
Meaning
To feel slightly nauseous or uneasy, often accompanied by a sensation of sickness or a desire to vomit.
Origin
The word "queasy" first surfaced in the English language around the late 16th century, capturing that unsettling lurch in the stomach. Its exact parentage is a bit hazy, perhaps a linguistic melting pot of Old Norse "kveisa," meaning a pain or affliction in the belly, and Middle Low German "quais," which described something sickly or rotten. This murky heritage perfectly reflects the feeling itself: that vague, shifting discomfort that precedes full-blown illness. It speaks to a state of being unsettled, whether by a choppy sea, a rich meal, or simply a gnawing anxiety. The phrase distills this ancient, primal human experience into a single, evocative word, reminding us of our shared vulnerability to life's many unsettling turns.
Examples
- The turbulent flight made me feel quite queasy, and I had to close my eyes.
- After eating too much rich food, she started to feel queasy and needed to lie down.