B2 Collocation رسمی 2 دقیقه مطالعه

critical condition

Serious medical state

در ۱۵ ثانیه

  • Used for life-threatening medical situations or extreme emergencies.
  • Indicates unstable vital signs and a very high risk.
  • Commonly found in news reports and medical TV shows.

معنی

This phrase describes someone who is extremely sick or injured and needs urgent medical care to survive. It is the most serious status a patient can have in a hospital.

مثال‌های کلیدی

3 از 6
1

Reporting a car accident

The driver was rushed to the hospital and remains in critical condition.

The driver was rushed to the hospital and remains in critical condition.

<svg class="w-5 h-5" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true"><path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M21 13.255A23.931 23.931 0 0112 15c-3.183 0-6.22-.62-9-1.745M16 6V4a2 2 0 00-2-2h-4a2 2 0 00-2 2v2m4 6h.01M5 20h14a2 2 0 002-2V8a2 2 0 00-2-2H5a2 2 0 00-2 2v10a2 2 0 002 2z"/></svg>
2

Discussing a failing business project

If we don't get this funding, the whole startup is in critical condition.

<svg class="w-5 h-5" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true"><path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M21 13.255A23.931 23.931 0 0112 15c-3.183 0-6.22-.62-9-1.745M16 6V4a2 2 0 00-2-2h-4a2 2 0 00-2 2v2m4 6h.01M5 20h14a2 2 0 002-2V8a2 2 0 00-2-2H5a2 2 0 00-2 2v10a2 2 0 002 2z"/></svg>
3

Texting about a broken phone

Dropped my phone from the balcony... it's in critical condition right now.

Dropped my phone from the balcony... it's in critical condition right now.

<svg class="w-5 h-5" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true"><path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M14.828 14.828a4 4 0 01-5.656 0M9 10h.01M15 10h.01M21 12a9 9 0 11-18 0 9 9 0 0118 0z"/></svg>
🌍

زمینه فرهنگی

In the US and UK, hospital privacy laws (like HIPAA) often limit what staff can say. They use 'critical condition' as a standardized code to communicate severity without revealing private medical details. It has become a staple of 'breaking news' vocabulary worldwide.

💡

The 'In' Rule

Always use the preposition `in`. You are `in critical condition`, never `at` or `with` it.

⚠️

Don't Overuse It

Because it's a heavy term, using it for small problems (like a broken toe) can make you sound insensitive to real emergencies.

در ۱۵ ثانیه

  • Used for life-threatening medical situations or extreme emergencies.
  • Indicates unstable vital signs and a very high risk.
  • Commonly found in news reports and medical TV shows.

What It Means

Critical condition is a medical term that has leaked into everyday talk. It means someone is in a very dangerous spot. Their vital signs are unstable. Doctors are worried they might not make it. It is the highest level of medical emergency. Think of it as the 'red zone' for health.

How To Use It

You usually hear this in news reports or hospital hallways. You use it as a noun phrase after the verb to be. For example: "He is in critical condition." You can also use it to describe things that are failing. A car engine or a bank account can be in critical condition if things are looking really bad. It adds a sense of high drama and urgency to your sentence.

When To Use It

Use it when you are talking about serious accidents or illnesses. It is perfect for hospital updates. You might use it in a professional meeting to describe a project that is failing fast. If your laptop screen turns blue and won't start, you could tell your friend it is in critical condition. It shows you are serious about the trouble.

When NOT To Use It

Do not use this for minor problems. If you have a small headache, do not say you are in critical condition. People will think you are being a 'drama queen.' Avoid using it in lighthearted situations unless you are clearly joking. It is a heavy phrase that carries a lot of emotional weight. Using it for a broken fingernail might make people roll their eyes.

Cultural Background

In Western media, hospital spokespeople use specific 'condition' levels. These are undetermined, good, fair, serious, and critical. Critical is the one that makes everyone stop and listen. It became popular through TV medical dramas like 'ER' or 'Grey's Anatomy.' It represents the moment of highest tension in a story. It is a universal signal for 'pray for this person.'

Common Variations

You might hear people say critically ill or in a critical state. Sometimes people say someone is clinging to life. In business, you might hear critical failure. If you want to be less formal, you can say someone is in a bad way. But critical condition remains the gold standard for serious news.

نکات کاربردی

The phrase is almost always used with the verb 'to be' (e.g., 'is in', 'remains in'). It is a high-register term, so avoid using it for trivial matters unless you are intentionally using hyperbole for humor.

💡

The 'In' Rule

Always use the preposition `in`. You are `in critical condition`, never `at` or `with` it.

⚠️

Don't Overuse It

Because it's a heavy term, using it for small problems (like a broken toe) can make you sound insensitive to real emergencies.

💬

The News Secret

In the US, if a news report says 'critical but stable,' it means the person is very sick but their condition isn't getting worse right now.

مثال‌ها

6
#1 Reporting a car accident
<svg class="w-5 h-5" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true"><path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M21 13.255A23.931 23.931 0 0112 15c-3.183 0-6.22-.62-9-1.745M16 6V4a2 2 0 00-2-2h-4a2 2 0 00-2 2v2m4 6h.01M5 20h14a2 2 0 002-2V8a2 2 0 00-2-2H5a2 2 0 00-2 2v10a2 2 0 002 2z"/></svg>

The driver was rushed to the hospital and remains in critical condition.

The driver was rushed to the hospital and remains in critical condition.

Standard news reporting style.

#2 Discussing a failing business project
<svg class="w-5 h-5" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true"><path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M21 13.255A23.931 23.931 0 0112 15c-3.183 0-6.22-.62-9-1.745M16 6V4a2 2 0 00-2-2h-4a2 2 0 00-2 2v2m4 6h.01M5 20h14a2 2 0 002-2V8a2 2 0 00-2-2H5a2 2 0 00-2 2v10a2 2 0 002 2z"/></svg>

If we don't get this funding, the whole startup is in critical condition.

Using medical metaphors for business stress.

#3 Texting about a broken phone
<svg class="w-5 h-5" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true"><path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M14.828 14.828a4 4 0 01-5.656 0M9 10h.01M15 10h.01M21 12a9 9 0 11-18 0 9 9 0 0118 0z"/></svg>

Dropped my phone from the balcony... it's in critical condition right now.

Dropped my phone from the balcony... it's in critical condition right now.

Hyperbolic and slightly humorous use.

#4 A doctor speaking to a family
<svg class="w-5 h-5" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true"><path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M4.318 6.318a4.5 4.5 0 000 6.364L12 20.364l7.682-7.682a4.5 4.5 0 00-6.364-6.364L12 7.636l-1.318-1.318a4.5 4.5 0 00-6.364 0z"/></svg>

I won't sugarcoat it; your father is in critical condition.

I won't sugarcoat it; your father is in critical condition.

Direct, serious medical communication.

#5 Talking about a dying plant
<svg class="w-5 h-5" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true"><path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M14.828 14.828a4 4 0 01-5.656 0M9 10h.01M15 10h.01M21 12a9 9 0 11-18 0 9 9 0 0118 0z"/></svg>

I forgot to water my cactus for three months; it's in critical condition.

I forgot to water my cactus for three months; it's in critical condition.

Casual exaggeration for daily life.

#6 In a movie script
<svg class="w-5 h-5" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" viewBox="0 0 24 24" aria-hidden="true"><path stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" d="M21 13.255A23.931 23.931 0 0112 15c-3.183 0-6.22-.62-9-1.745M16 6V4a2 2 0 00-2-2h-4a2 2 0 00-2 2v2m4 6h.01M5 20h14a2 2 0 002-2V8a2 2 0 00-2-2H5a2 2 0 00-2 2v10a2 2 0 002 2z"/></svg>

The hero is in critical condition after the explosion.

The hero is in critical condition after the explosion.

Classic dramatic trope.

خودت رو بسنج

Choose the correct phrase to describe a very serious medical state.

After the surgery, the patient was moved to the ICU because she was in ___.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: critical condition

Critical condition is the medical term for a life-threatening state.

Which verb usually precedes 'critical condition'?

The victim ___ in critical condition at the local infirmary.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: remains

'Remains in critical condition' is the most common collocation used by news outlets.

🎉 امتیاز: /2

ابزارهای بصری یادگیری

Formality of 'Critical Condition'

Informal

Used for broken objects or jokes.

My laptop is in critical condition.

Neutral

General conversation about news.

I heard the victim is in critical condition.

Formal

Medical reports and journalism.

The patient is listed in critical condition.

Where you'll hear 'Critical Condition'

Critical Condition
📺

Evening News

Reporting on a disaster.

🏥

Hospital ICU

Doctors updating families.

💼

Office Meeting

A project failing badly.

💻

Tech Support

A completely dead device.

بانک تمرین

2 تمرین‌ها
Choose the correct phrase to describe a very serious medical state. جای خالی

After the surgery, the patient was moved to the ICU because she was in ___.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: critical condition

Critical condition is the medical term for a life-threatening state.

Which verb usually precedes 'critical condition'? جای خالی

The victim ___ in critical condition at the local infirmary.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: remains

'Remains in critical condition' is the most common collocation used by news outlets.

🎉 امتیاز: /2

سوالات متداول

10 سوال

It means the patient's vital signs are unstable and outside of normal limits. They may be unconscious and their prognosis is uncertain.

Yes, if the car is completely totaled or barely running, you can say it's in critical condition for dramatic effect.

No, critical is more severe than serious. Serious means the person is very ill but their vitals are usually stable.

Yes, it is primarily a formal medical and journalistic term, though people use it metaphorically in casual speech.

No, that is incorrect. You must say in critical condition or use the adverb critically ill.

In a hospital setting, the opposite would be stable condition or good condition.

It provides a clear, standardized way to describe the severity of an event without needing specific medical knowledge.

Only if you are being dramatic about something minor or if there is a genuine emergency. Use with caution.

Not necessarily, but it means there is a high risk. Many people recover from critical condition.

Yes, it's a common metaphor for a company that is about to go bankrupt or lose all its clients.

عبارات مرتبط

🔗

Stable condition

The patient's health is not getting worse.

🔗

Life-threatening

An injury or illness that could cause death.

🔗

Intensive care

Specialized medical treatment for patients in critical condition.

🔗

Fighting for one's life

An idiomatic way to say someone is in a very dangerous health state.

مفید بود؟
هنوز نظری وجود ندارد. اولین نفری باشید که افکار خود را به اشتراک می‌گذارد!