throw up

You can use it as a verb in different tenses. If it happened yesterday, you threw up. If you feel sick right now, you might say you are going to throw up. You can also use it as a noun, though it is less common than the verb. It usually follows a subject like I, he, or the dog. You do not need an object after it. Just saying I threw up is a complete and clear thought.

Use this with friends, family, or even a doctor. It is perfect for explaining why you missed a party. You can use it when talking about motion sickness on a boat. It is also common when discussing a flu or food poisoning. If you are at a restaurant and feel ill, tell your friends quietly. It is a very practical, everyday phrase for health mishaps.

Avoid using this during a formal dinner or a business lunch. People might find it a bit too graphic while they are eating. In a very formal medical report, a doctor might use emesis or vomiting. Do not use it to mean 'throwing something into the air' in a sports context. That would just be throwing the ball up. Also, avoid it in high-level professional presentations unless you are a pediatrician!

In Western culture, people are usually a bit shy about this topic. However, throw up is the 'safe' middle-ground term. It became popular because it describes the physical motion involved. There is a certain 'gross-out' humor associated with it in teen movies. In college culture, it is often linked to drinking too much alcohol. It is a phrase that everyone hates to experience but everyone uses to describe it.

You might hear people say puke which is much more informal and a bit grosser. Barf is another common slang variation used by kids and teens. If you want to be very polite, you can say be sick or toss your cookies. In the UK, people often say be sick instead of throw up. However, throw up remains the universal standard that works everywhere from New York to Sydney.