fever
Related to fever: fever treatment
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.
See also: fever, pitch
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.
See also: barrel, fever
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.
See also: 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, South Africa. 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, South Africa. I had a bit of buck fever before my first varsity football game.
See also: buck, fever
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
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.
See also: feed, fever, starve
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.
See also: fever, pitch
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.
See also: fever, run
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.
See also: fever, spring
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."
See also: feed, fever, starve
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
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.
See also: and, cold, feed, fever, starve
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.
See also: and, fever, run, temperature
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
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]
See also: fever, run
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
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.
See also: fever, pitch
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
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.See also: fever, pitch
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
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.
See also: barrel, fever
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
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.”
See also: fever, pitch
The Dictionary of Clichés 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.
See also: blanket, fever
Endangered Phrases by Steven D. Price
- at fever pitch
- fever pitch
- hog wild
- hog-wild
- throw cold water on
- throw cold water on (something)
- ripple of excitement
- go hog wild
- go hog wild, to
- go hog-wild