sick headache
1
6.5
- noun
- /sɪk ˈhɛdkeɪk/
- Archaic
:
jaqueca
- His wife made him wretched with her sick headaches and her unaccountable neuroses.
Examples
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After spending hours in front of the computer, I was struck with a severe sick headache that made it hard to focus.
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When she woke up with a sick headache, she knew it would be a day spent resting in bed.
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You were sitting here in front of the fireplace with a sick headache.
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He might get a very sick headache.
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She went to bed with a sick headache worrying about you.
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I know certain people who predict in advance that they will have a sick headache on a certain day, in certain circumstances, and on that day, in the given circumstances, sure enough, they feel it.
Blog text (34) -
"Betty's got one of her sick headaches," she said.
Fiction book (1990) -
The term 'migraine' describes an episodic, sick headache in a person who is usually well between attacks.
Academic text (2011) -
Right underneath is "Holloway's Pills," promising to cure biliousness, sick headache, indigestion, and all internal complaints.
Blog text (1) -
Tootie got sick headaches like Ma—they had that in common—and we would have to go up in her room and put ice packs on her head.
Fiction book (1994)
Synonyms
104
3.3
A very bad headache that often affects one side and makes light or sound painful
A strong headache that comes back often and affects one side of the head
A severe recurring headache that affects one side of the head
How Severe
- Archaic
1
6.5
427
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning of 'sick headache' follows directly from 'sick' (ill) + 'headache' (pain in the head): it denotes a headache associated with illness or severe enough to cause nausea, which a B1 learner who knows both words can infer. Although the phrase may be somewhat dated or clinical (often labeled 'migraine' in modern usage), its adjective+noun composition is transparent and cross-linguistically predictable.
Etymology
Sick headache came from old doctors who used it for a bad headache that also made a person feel sick. They meant what we now call a 'migraine', so the phrase refers to a very strong headache that often makes you feel sick.