flu

Everyday

An illness caused by a virus that gives you a high temperature, aches, a cough, a sore throat and makes you feel very tired. tree →

In the lessons

In health lessons, flu spreads through coughs, sneezes and dirty hands, so we catch coughs in a tissue or elbow and wash our hands. Many people get a flu vaccine every year. Flu is worse than a common cold. Phrases: have the flu, catch the flu, flu jab, flu shot, flu season, stomach flu.

Examples

• I stayed home because I had the flu. tree →
• Catch your sneeze to stop flu spreading. tree →
• I had my flu shot at the doctor's. tree →
• Flu season is in winter. tree →
• You feel very tired and achy with flu. tree →
• Wash your hands to keep flu away. tree →

Note

Uncountable: "have flu" or "have the flu", not "a flu". It is short for "influenza". Myth: antibiotics do not cure flu, because flu is a virus. Don't confuse "flu" with "flew" (past of fly) or "flue" (a chimney pipe); they sound the same.