C1idiominformalhealthIELTS-friendly
drop like flies
USUK
to become ill, collapse or give up in large numbers
Usually continuous: 'are dropping like flies'. Informal and a bit dramatic.
In context
During flu season, people in our office were dropping like flies.
In the heat, the runners dropped like flies after twenty kilometres.
More idioms about health
- a clean bill of healtha doctor's statement, after an examination, that someone is healthy
- a new lease of lifenew energy, or a chance to be active or useful again
- a ripe old agea very old age, reached in good health
- a second windnew energy that lets you continue after you felt too tired
- a shadow of your former selfmuch weaker, thinner or less impressive than before