worried sick

Idioms and Phrases

Also, worried to death . Extremely anxious, as in Her parents were worried sick when she didn't come home all night , or We've been worried to death about the drop in the stock market . These somewhat hyperbolic phrases (one could conceivably feel ill from worrying but would hardly die from it) date from the second half of the 1800s.

Example Sentences

"This one is for the mums and dads... They, like me, are worried sick about the safety of our kids online. I want Australian families to know that the government has your back," he said.

From BBC

"I'm just worried sick for the safety of women and girls on the streets that this man should be in the community," she said.

From BBC

“I’m not traveling to a city I’ve never been to before. Mom would be worried sick if she found out! We can’t do that to her.”

From Literature

During Thursday’s hearing, Baur’s attorney, Ann Larson, told the court that “there’s a lot of high emotion going on, but there’s also a lot of high emotion going on with Ms. Baur. She’s been worried sick not knowing where her son is.”

From Seattle Times

A British-Israeli woman has told the BBC she is "worried sick" for the health of her diabetic mother and brother who are believed to among the hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

From BBC

Related Words

• afraid
• apprehensive
• careful
• concerned
• distressed
• fearful
• fidgety
• jittery
• nervous
• restless
• scared
• uneasy
• uptight