Medical & Healthcare

Hospital slang, health conditions, and NHS culture

简介

医学世界发展出了一套自己的多彩词汇——从医院的官方术语到患者和医护人员私下使用的俚语。在英国，NHS（国民健康服务）已经成为一种文化机构，产生了自己独特的表达方式。

医疗俚语有多种用途：让专业人员之间沟通更高效，给患者提供描述症状的通俗方式，还经常在严肃情况下加入黑色幽默。从“feeling rough（不太舒服）”到急诊室（A&E）里的黑色笑话，这些语言反映了我们如何面对疾病。

这一章从诊室的两边来探索医疗词汇——那些已经进入日常用语的临床术语，以及我们描述自己毛病时用的俚语。无论你是要在英国看病，还是只想了解英国人怎么聊自己的身体，这些都很实用。

主题

本章全部英语俚语（73）

• Feeling peaky Looking or feeling unwell; appearing pale and sickly.
• NHS The National Health Service; Britain's publicly funded healthcare system.
• Lurgy An unspecified illness, usually a cold or flu.
• Scrubs Medical staff uniforms; also the surgical ward or environment.
• On call Available to work if needed; not actively working but must respond if summoned.
• Bedside manner A doctor's way of interacting with patients; their interpersonal skills.
• A&E Accident and Emergency department (British hospital emergency room).
• GP General Practitioner, family doctor (British).
• Surgery GP's office, doctor's practice (British).
• Chemist Pharmacy, drugstore (British).
• Ward Hospital department/section for patients.
• Theatre Operating room (British medical).
• Consultant Senior specialist doctor (British NHS rank).
• Registrar Training specialist doctor below consultant (British NHS rank).
• House officer Junior doctor in first year after qualifying (British, traditional).
• Peaky Looking unwell, pale, sickly (British).
• Dodgy tummy Upset stomach, digestive problems (British).
• Man flu Mild illness dramatically exaggerated by men (humorous).
• Sniffles Minor cold, runny nose (mild illness).
• Jab Injection, vaccination (British).
• Script Prescription (informal).
• Plaster Band-Aid, adhesive bandage (British).
• Paracetamol Acetaminophen/Tylenol (British name for common painkiller).
• Nil by mouth Nothing to eat or drink (medical instruction before surgery).
• Blood donor Person who gives blood for medical use.
• Feeling blue Feeling sad or depressed.
• Having a wobble Moment of doubt, anxiety, or emotional instability (British).
• At the end of my tether At the limit of patience or endurance (British).
• Nervous breakdown Mental health crisis, inability to cope (dated but understood).
• Stressed out Very stressed, overwhelmed by pressure.
• Not quite right Something wrong mentally or emotionally (British euphemism).
• Crackers Crazy, insane (British informal).
• Biopsy Medical procedure to remove tissue for examination.
• Discharge Being released from hospital; official departure.
• Triage Process of sorting patients by urgency in A&E.
• Outpatient Patient who visits hospital but doesn't stay overnight.
• Inpatient Patient who stays in hospital overnight or longer.
• Referral Being sent to a specialist by your GP.
• Matron Senior nurse in charge of a hospital ward.
• Locum Temporary doctor filling in for absent staff.
• Obs Observations—routine vital sign checks in hospital.
• Drip Intravenous line delivering fluids or medication.
• Bloods Blood tests.
• Scan Medical imaging—ultrasound, CT, MRI, etc.
• Dodgy ticker Heart problems; unreliable heart.
• Dicky tummy Upset stomach; digestive problems.
• Gyp Pain or trouble; something causing discomfort.
• Groggy Weak and unsteady; feeling dazed.
• Sick note Doctor's certificate excusing absence from work.
• Throwing up Vomiting.
• Being sick Vomiting (British); being ill generally.
• Black out To faint or lose consciousness briefly.
• Keel over To collapse suddenly; fall over.
• Laid up Confined to bed by illness or injury.
• White as a sheet Very pale, usually from shock or illness.
• Quack Unqualified or incompetent doctor; also jokingly any doctor.
• Sawbones Doctor, especially a surgeon (old-fashioned).
• Sickie A day off work pretending to be ill.
• Under the knife Having surgery.
• Funny turn A brief spell of feeling unwell or dizzy.
• At death's door Extremely ill; close to dying.
• Touch of flu Mild flu symptoms; feeling unwell.
• Bed rest Doctor's orders to stay in bed to recover.
• In remission Cancer or disease symptoms have decreased or disappeared.
• The all-clear Confirmation that everything is fine; no problems.
• Check-up Routine medical examination.
• On prescription Medication that requires a doctor's authorisation.
• Over the counter Medication available without a prescription.
• Day surgery Surgery where you go home the same day.
• On the list Registered for NHS treatment or surgery.
• Physio Physiotherapy or physiotherapist.
• Casualty A&E department; emergency room.
• Dodgy back Chronic back problems; unreliable back.