laid up
Stuck sick or hurt, usually in bed and out of commission.
Also called down sick, out of commission.
Updated September 24, 2026
laid up pronunciation
/LAYD up/
Meaning
Means somebody is down for a spell: bad back, flu, wrecked knee. They are not at work and not fussing around the yard. Country talk also hangs it on broken gear: the tractor is laid up in the shed. Either way, nothing is moving till it heals or gets fixed.
How folks use it
- “He's laid up with his back again and can't help load hay.”
- “Truck's laid up at the shop till payday.”
Origin and etymology
From older "lay up," meaning to set aside or put to rest. Sailors used laid-up for a ship moored out of service (1700s). The sick-in-bed sense followed in everyday American English and stayed strong in Southern and Appalachian talk.
Frequently asked questions
Can laid up mean a broken machine?
Yes. People and trucks both get laid up when they cannot run.