upset stomach
- noun
- /ʌpˈsɛt ˈstʌmək/
- I have a bit of an upset stomach.
- upset stomach and headache
- upset stomach and indigestion
- upset stomach and nausea
So we're experiencing things like fatigue and headache and upset stomach all the time.
- So we're experiencing things like fatigue and headache and upset stomach all the time.
- And lagastritis is like heartburn and like indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhea.
Examples
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Harvey's been in bed all day with an upset stomach.
-
I always have peppermint tea leaves on hand to make herbal peppermint tea for an upset stomach.
Blog text (15) -
You know what I do when I have an upset stomach?
-
Sure enough, I had a bit of an upset stomach the next day.
Blog text (18) -
I've got a little upset stomach myself.
-
I think he's got an upset stomach.
-
Agnes went home early with an upset stomach.
Fiction book (1991) -
Jamie often complains of an upset stomach and has missed several days of school this year.
Academic text (2014) -
Let the baby sip the peppermint water or the tea, and it will help an upset stomach within minutes.
Blog text (15) -
Harvey's been in bed all day with an upset stomach.
Synonyms
A sick feeling in your stomach that makes you want to vomit
Stomach pain after eating, often with heartburn or feeling sick
A feeling of hurt in the stomach area between the chest and hips
A pain in the stomach or belly that makes you uncomfortable
A pain in the stomach that makes you feel sick
A pain in the stomach or tummy
A sick feeling in the stomach and a bit of worry
An uncomfortable pain in the upper stomach often with feeling sick or heartburn
A pain or uncomfortable feeling in the stomach area
How Uncomfortable
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'upset' (queasy/unwell) modifies 'stomach', so a learner who knows both words can infer digestive discomfort, nausea, or heartburn. This adjective+noun pattern is common across languages and follows normal English modification rules, making the phrase immediately understandable to B1 learners.
Etymology
Upset stomach may come from the simple image of a stomach being upset inside, as if something is not right. So it means 'feeling sick' in the stomach, with pain, nausea, or heartburn.