fever
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Related to fever: fever treatment
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at fever pitch
In a state of great excitement, fervor, or agitation. The crowd's cheering was at fever pitch when the band finally appeared on stage. The warm-up speaker will have the crowd at fever pitch by the time you get on stage.
barrel fever
1. slang A hangover. Well, if you don't remember last night at the bar at all, I'm not surprised you have barrel fever today!
2. slang The state of being intoxicated or drunk. Well, I must have had barrel fever last night if I got up and did karaoke at the bar!
3. slang A case of delirium tremens (a state of physical distress due to alcohol withdrawal, especially after chronic or heavy use). If Pop just stops drinking without being monitored by doctors, he might develop barrel fever.
be at a fever pitch
To be in a state of great excitement, fervor, or agitation. The crowd's cheering was at a fever pitch when the band finally appeared on stage. The conflict between those two will soon be at a fever pitch if someone doesn't intervene.
blanket fever
A humorous phrase that describes the impulse to stay in bed all day and not do anything as a medical condition. Molly didn't come to her 9 AM class because she said she's not feeling well, but I suspect she's got a case of blanket fever.
buck fever
1. Nervous anticipation and excitement felt by a novice or inexperienced hunter when seeing game (not necessarily deer) for the first time. Primarily heard in US. Calm down, son, and get that buck fever under control or you won't be able to hit the thing!
2. Any feelings of nervous anticipation and excitement felt before a new experience. Primarily heard in US. I had a bit of buck fever before my first varsity football game.
cabin fever
1. Acute anxiety, restlessness, irritability and/or depression from remaining for too long in an unstimulating and isolated or remote environment, either by oneself or with others (especially when in cramped conditions). We thought taking our family vacation in a tiny cottage out in the country would be a nice break from city life, but we all had pretty bad cabin fever after a few days.
2. Any feeling of boredom or restlessness from being in one place and/or by oneself for too long. I decided to stay home on Friday night, but after a few hours by myself, I started getting cabin fever.
See also: fever
English fever
The intense desire to learn and become proficient in the English language, either for oneself or for one's children. It seems that English fever has especially affected South Koreans, who are eager to have their children learn the language.
feed a cold, starve a fever
proverb Antiquated advice that suggests that someone with a cold should eat, while someone with a fever should fast. Most health experts now agree that "starving" is not the right course for either malady. My grandmother always said "feed a cold, starve a fever," but it's best to stay properly nourished even when you have a high temperature.
fever pitch
A state of great excitement or turmoil. The crowd's cheering reached a fever pitch when the band finally appeared on stage. The conflict between those two is going to reach a fever pitch if someone doesn't intervene.
hempen fever
obsolete euphemism Death by hanging. "Hempen" means of or like hemp, a fiber used to make rope (and thus, a noose). You're sure to come down with hempen fever if you get caught. People have been killed for crimes far less serious than what you're planning.
money fever
To have a great passion or zeal for earning and possessing money. I'm not surprised that Alex has become a millionaire—he's always had money fever, even when he was young. Money fever will be the downfall of our society, if you ask me.
reach a fever pitch
To be filled with or characterized by great excitement, fervor, or agitation. The crowd's cheering reached a fever pitch when the band finally appeared on stage. Playoff excitement around the team is reaching a fever pitch after their miraculous come-from-behind victory last night.
run a fever
To have an abnormally high body temperature (a fever), which is indicative of or caused by illness; to have a fever. After my toddler was lethargic all day, I begin to worry that she was running a fever.
run a temperature
To have an abnormally high body temperature (a fever), which is indicative of or caused by illness. Dan: "How's Pete feeling?" Marshall: "Well, he ran a temperature last night, but he seemed a lot better this morning after some rest." I think I've started running a temperature. Maybe I should go lie down.
See also: run, temperature
spring fever
A feeling of often restless excitement or exuberance coinciding with the onset of warmer spring weather. It's hard enough keeping control of a class full of young children throughout the year, but it's particularly difficult once spring fever starts to spread. It's wonderful seeing the city touched by spring fever, coming alive again after the deadening winter.
starve a cold, feed a fever
The reverse of the more common axiom "feed a cold, starve a fever," antiquated advice that suggests that someone with a cold should fast, while someone with a fever should eat. Most health experts now agree that "starving" is not the right course for either malady. A: "She has a fever, so I'm making her some soup. You know what they say—starve a cold, feed a fever." B: "I don't think that's what a doctor would say."
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
Feed a cold and starve a fever.
Prov. You should feed someone who has a cold, and withhold food from someone who has a fever.; (or, interpreted differently) If you feed someone who has a cold, that will ward off a fever. Jill: I don't feel like going out to lunch with you. I have a cold. Jane: All the more reason you should get something to eat. Feed a cold and starve a fever, you know.
run a fever and run a temperature
to have a body temperature higher than normal; to have a fever. I ran a fever when I had the flu. The baby is running a temperature and is grouchy.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
cabin fever
Distress or anxiety caused by prolonged confinement in a small or remote place, as in We've been snowed in for a week and everyone has cabin fever. Originating in the West, this term at first alluded to being penned up in a remote cabin during a long winter but has since been applied more broadly. [Late 1800s]
See also: fever
run a fever
Also, run a temperature. Suffer from a body temperature higher than normal, as in She was running a fever so I kept her home from school. These idioms use run in the sense of "cause to move," in this case upward. [Early 1900s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
fever pitch
COMMON If a situation or a feeling reaches fever pitch, there is a lot of emotion, excitement or activity. Rumors of the love affair hit fever pitch in the past few days after the pair were seen around Sydney. The grief provoked by his assassination has raised tensions in the area to fever pitch.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
at ˈfever pitch
in a state of great excitement or great activity: The audience was at fever pitch. I’ve never seen such excitement at a concert. ♢ We’re working at fever pitch to get the hall ready for the concert at eight.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
barrel fever
1. n. drunkenness. She seems to get barrel fever about once a week.
2. n. a hangover. Man, have I ever got barrel fever.
3. n. the delirium tremens. The old man is down with barrel fever again.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
cabin fever
Restlessness, irritability or depression resulting from prolonged confinement, as during severe winter weather. This term comes from the American West of the late 1800s, when it literally meant being stuck inside a remote cabin, a situation that could lead to fights, divorce, and occasionally even murder. It is used somewhat more loosely now.
See also: fever
fever pitch
A state of extreme excitement. Dating from the mid-nineteenth century, this term alludes to the heat of a fever, or rise in body temperature. For example, “This eloquent orator aroused the crowd to a fever pitch.”
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer
blanket fever
A lumberjack expression for laziness, as if the woodsman had a medical reason for staying in bed instead of working.
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price Copyright © 2011 by Steven D. Price