Thread: You look like death warmed up

So, this was the phrase about health. What does it mean, please?

I think the phrase is "death warmed over"

It means you look AWFUL (pale, exhausted, glazed eyes, etc)

"warmed over" is a reference to yesterday's leftover food that has been reheated slightly and usually looks much worse than it did when it was fresh.

It's "... warmed up" in BrE.

I always thought it ment that someone looked like the living dead...

Originally Posted by Тостер

I always thought it ment that someone looked like the living dead...

I would say it's close enough. Some people when they are very very sick or so tired, they could look like zombies. As a matter of fact, there's a saying which would sound something like "to have a living dead face".

Thanks all.

"Living dead face"... Cool!

This is a common phrase actually. At least in my part of the world.
It is said to someone who looks very sick.

It has no real meaning by itself. Just like saying "You look sick".
If you want to be polite you would ask "are you feeling ok?".