Medical idioms

Terminology used in medicine and other settings.

Good health

Clean bill of health

• See: Clean bill of health

Fit as a fiddle

To be fit as a fiddle meant to be healthy and spry.

When Vantica was possessing Bashir, he described the latter's body as fit as a fiddle. (VOY: "The Passenger")

Healthy as a horse/Rigelian ox/targ

To be healthy as a horse, a Rigelian ox, or a targ meant to be in perfect health.

McCoy described Kirk as being as healthy as "the proverbial horse", with the exception of several bruises. (TOS: "Tomorrow is Yesterday")

Kareen Brianon described Ira Graves as being unwell and mentally unstable, but Graves countered that he was as healthy as a Rigelian ox. Later, when his personality was inhabiting Data's body, he used the same expression. (TNG: "The Schizoid Man")

After curing T'Greth of his nehret, the EMH described him as being as healthy as a targ. (VOY: "Prophecy")

In the pink

To be in the pink was to be in extremely good condition.

In 2269, when Leonard McCoy was giving a physical to James T. Kirk, whose body was then inhabited by the mind of Janice Lester, he noted that all of Kirk's organs were healthy, and declared the captain to be in the pink. (TOS: "Turnabout Intruder")

Out of the woods

Out of the woods mean one's condition had improved.

In 2367, Dr. Crusher informed Picard that a cove palm parasite-afflicted Willie Potts was out of the woods. (TNG: "Brothers")

The picture of health

Right as rain

Sound in wind and limb

To be sound in wind and limb was to be healthy in breath and body.

In 2266, Doctor McCoy used this phrase to tell Charles Evans he was perfectly healthy. (TOS: "Charlie X")

Bad health

(At) death's door

To be at death's door was to be close to dying.

In 2263 of the alternate reality, Leonard McCoy commented on the his disbelief at a wounded Spock's quote, ("The miserable have no other medicine but only hope") noting, "Death's door and he's quoting Shakespeare."' (Star Trek Beyond)

Knock the wind out of (someone)

To knock the wind out of (someone) was to strike someone in the chest with such force that they were unable to breathe normally for a short period of time.

In 2152, when working on a Suliban cell ship, Trip Tucker made a mistake that threw him back from the device he was working on. He said he was alright, "just got the wind knocked out of [him]." (ENT: "The Communicator")

In 2373, Crewman Amaro reminisced about the first time he sparred with Stolzoff. She took him down so hard it "knocked the wind out of" him. (DS9: "Empok Nor")

Sick as a dog/vole

To be sick as a dog or sick as a vole meant to be unwell.

Whatley described Duarte as being sick as a vole. (DS9: "The Assignment")

Under the weather

Winded

To be winded is to be out of breath or tired.

In 2266, during his regular quarterly physical examination, Doctor McCoy asked Captain Kirk if the test exercise had tired him by asking if he was "winded." (TOS: "The Corbomite Maneuver")

Other

A taste of your own medicine

Used to describe giving someone the same bad treatment they had been giving you. (VOY: "Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy"; DIS: "Rubicon")

Bedside manner

• See: Bedside manner

Bloody nose

Describes doing something that embarrasses or inconveniences an organization. (TOS: "The Galileo Seven", TNG: "Q Who", DS9: "Shakaar", "In the Pale Moonlight")

Ears (are) burning

Said to happen to someone who is being discussed by another.

In 2259 of the alternate reality, after discussing his and Nyota Uhura's respective conflicts with Spock while riding the turbolift, James T. Kirk encountered the Vulcan just as he entered the bridge, prompting him to ask Spock if his ears were burning. (Star Trek Into Darkness)

Happiness pill

• See: Happiness pill

Headache

Describes something that is frustrating and liable to bring on a headache.

Just what the doctor ordered

Means a solution that is exactly what is needed.

Sulu jokingly described a shore leave planet as being just what the doctor ordered to McCoy, who was a doctor himself. Later, McCoy repeated the idiom. (TOS: "Shore Leave")

Old fart

Pain in the ass/neck

Used to describe something or someone that was annoying. (ENT: "Singularity", "Shadows of P'Jem", "These Are The Voyages...", TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds, Part II", VOY: "Revulsion", Star Trek Into Darkness)

Road to recovery

Describes the process of recuperation as being like a road one traveled to get there. (VOY: "Imperfection")

Under (close) observation

Being monitored by a doctor as opposed to self-managing one's care. (ENT: "Anomaly (ENT)", "Exile", TOS: "Where No Man Has Gone Before", "The Menagerie, Part I", TNG: "The Nth Degree", "Aquiel", DS9: "Inquisition", VOY: "Meld")