27+ Other Ways to Say “Throw Up” (110+ Examples)

It’s common to feel sick, so learning words for it helps you. Sometimes, you need a polite way to say it, or maybe a funny one. I will help you find the right words to use when you or a friend feel bad. Let’s look at many ways to describe this mess together, just to be very clear.

“Throw Up” for Casual Chats

Hurl

Someone uses this when they want to be quick and blunt. It sounds rough, like a short noise. You might say it if you are joking with a close friend. This word fits a casual setting where you don’t need to be fancy. It shows you feel awful, fast. Using this word brings a clear, gross, and very honest vibe.

• You are going to hurl soon.
• He will hurl if he eats that.
• Please do not hurl on the rug.
• Did she hurl after the long ride?

Barf

Friends use this word when they are talking about feeling gross. It sounds like a sudden, messy action. You should pick this if you want to be funny about a bad meal. It works well at home or among people you know well. Avoid it at work or school, as it sounds very informal, even a little rude to some ears.

• That food made me want to barf.
• Do not barf in the car, please.
• He might barf from the spinning ride.
• We saw him barf near the tree.

Upchuck

Parents often use this funny, old word with their kids. It sounds less gross than other words on this list. You can use it to keep things light, even when things are messy. It works best in a family home. People will know what you mean, but they won’t feel too disgusted. It is a soft way to talk about being sick.

• The baby might upchuck his milk now.
• Did you upchuck after the party today?
• Clean up if you upchuck the juice.
• Everyone saw him upchuck in the yard.

Spew

Describing a lot of sickness is easy with this word. It sounds like a fountain, honestly. You should use it if you want to be very dramatic. It fits a story about a very sick person. Just know that it sounds quite strong to most people. Keep it for times when you are really explaining how bad the situation got to be.

• That bad soda made him spew everywhere.
• Watch out or she will spew again.
• They had to spew after the contest.
• Why did you spew on the floor?

Puke

Kids love saying this word because it sounds very simple. You can use it when you are being very direct. It works in any spot where you don’t care about being polite. Teachers probably won’t like it, but your buddies will get it. It is a short, punchy way to describe feeling really, really bad in your stomach today.

• I think I am going to puke.
• Did he puke on his new shirt?
• You should puke before the long drive.
• They puke when they smell that fish.

Toss Your Cookies

Humor makes this phrase a great choice for friends. It sounds silly, which helps take the sting out of feeling sick. Use it when you want to make someone laugh during a bad time. It is not serious, so do not use it in a doctor’s office. People like it because it sounds like a weird, funny, old-fashioned way to speak.

• You will toss your cookies right now.
• Did she toss her cookies at lunch?
• I fear I might toss my cookies.
• He had to toss his cookies outside.

Lose Your Lunch

Waiting until after a meal makes this phrase work well. It implies that you just ate something you shouldn’t have. Use this when you are talking about food poisoning or a bad meal. It sounds a bit kinder than the other words. You can use it with anyone, as it is clear but not too gross or rude to hear.

• I might lose my lunch any second.
• Did he lose his lunch after dinner?
• You will lose your lunch if you run.
• She started to lose her lunch, sadly.

Revisit Your Breakfast

Gentle people like this phrase because it is a bit poetic. It sounds like you are being funny about a bad morning. You would use it when you are trying to be polite while feeling sick. It works great at a brunch or a morning event. Everyone knows what you mean, but nobody feels offended by your choice of words.

• Please do not revisit your breakfast here.
• Did you revisit your breakfast already, dear?
• He had to revisit his breakfast quickly.
• I am going to revisit my breakfast now.

Ralph

Old movies make this word sound like a classic joke. It is a very casual way to talk about sickness. Use it when you are hanging out with friends on a Friday. It has a fun, retro feeling that most people find funny. Just be careful who you say it to, because some people might not know this old slang word.

• Watch out, he is going to ralph.
• Did you ralph after the big game?
• I feel like I might ralph soon.
• She made him ralph with that smell.

“Throw Up” in Medical Settings

Vomit

Doctors use this word because it is the most accurate. You should use it when you are at the hospital. It is very professional and clear for any nurse. Don’t use it in a funny way, as it sounds too serious. It is the best word to describe a medical problem to someone who needs to help you feel better fast.

• The patient started to vomit very loudly.
• Does your child vomit after every meal?
• Tell the doctor if you vomit today.
• I did not vomit during the night.

Regurgitate

Science types love this word because it sounds very smart. Use it if you are talking about how the body works. It is not for casual talk at a party. It describes the action in a technical way. You might find it in a book or a lesson. Use it when you need to be very precise about a physical process.

• Birds often regurgitate food for their young.
• The system will regurgitate the bad stuff.
• Did the baby regurgitate any milk today?
• Snakes regurgitate if they feel very scared.

Be Sick

Everyone knows this phrase, so it is the safest choice. You can use it at work or with your boss. It sounds polite and very easy to understand. Nobody will be upset if you say you are sick. It covers everything from a cold to a stomach bug. Use it when you want to avoid being gross or too specific.

• I am going to be sick, sorry.
• He was sick in the back room.
• Are you going to be sick again?
• She has been sick all day long.

Have an Upset Stomach

Feeling bad starts in the stomach, so use this phrase. It describes the feeling before the actual mess happens. You can use this to warn your friends before you run to the bathroom. It is a polite way to ask for some space. It works well in any situation where you want to be clear but also very discreet.

• I have an upset stomach right now.
• Does she have an upset stomach today?
• You have an upset stomach, don’t you?
• We all have an upset stomach, sadly.

Get Sick

Short and simple words work best for most people. Use this when you are in a rush to leave a place. It explains exactly what is happening to you right now. No one will ask questions if you say this. It is a very standard way to talk about a sudden health issue that keeps you from having fun.

• I think I will get sick, excuse me.
• Did you get sick after that party?
• He will get sick from the heat.
• We got sick at the same time.

Bring Up

Quietly mentioning this makes it easier to tell someone. It sounds very soft, almost like you are whispering it. Use it when you are with your partner. It is not gross or harsh at all. You can use it in a quiet room without making anyone feel bad. It is a very gentle way to say you need to leave.

• She had to bring up her lunch.
• Did you bring up your dinner, honey?
• I feel like I might bring up.
• He will bring up if he eats.

Expel Food

Technical talk requires words like this one. You use it if you are writing a report. It sounds very clinical and cold to the ear. Don’t use this at a dinner table unless you want to be very strange. It is meant for papers or maybe a science class where you talk about how the human body processes food daily.

• The body will expel food if rotten.
• Did the patient expel food too fast?
• It is natural to expel food sometimes.
• They had to expel food at work.

“Throw Up” for Dramatic Flair

Get Sick All Over

Emphasizing the mess makes your story sound much bigger. Use this when you want to sound very dramatic. Your friends will be shocked when they hear you describe it. It paints a clear picture of a very bad day. Use this only when you are with close friends who want to hear the full, gross details of your wild story.

• He got sick all over the floor.
• Did you get sick all over him?
• She got sick all over the rug.
• I got sick all over the grass.

Upheave

Fancy writers might pick this word for their work. It sounds like a big, moving force inside you. Use it if you are writing a story or a poem. It sounds a bit like an earthquake in your belly. People might find it funny because it sounds so big for such a small, bad act of feeling sick during your day.

• The earth seemed to upheave that day.
• Can your stomach really upheave like that?
• He did upheave after the bad soup.
• They saw the ship upheave the cargo.

Eject

Machines eject things, so using this word sounds very funny. You can use it to be silly about your body. People will laugh because it sounds like a movie button. It is a great way to turn a gross moment into a joke. Use it when you want to make the situation feel less bad and more like a cartoon.

• My stomach will eject the bad meal.
• Did you eject your lunch just now?
• He had to eject his food fast.
• We watched it eject into the sink.

Heave

Sounds are important, and this word captures the noise well. Use it when you want to describe the struggle of being sick. It sounds like a deep, hard breath. You can use it to tell people how much effort it took. It is a bit gross, but it is very accurate for explaining a really tough, long bout of sickness.

• I heave when I smell that soap.
• Did you heave after the long run?
• He would heave every single morning now.
• We heard her heave in the hall.

Let It All Out

Sometimes you just need to be honest about the relief. This phrase sounds like you are finally feeling better now. Use it when you are talking about the end of a long sickness. It sounds calm and very peaceful. People will understand that you are glad the bad part is over. It is a nice way to finish the story.

• I finally let it all out now.
• Did you let it all out, finally?
• She had to let it all out.
• They let it all out in peace.

Blow Chunks

Slang is always fun for a group of teenagers. This sounds very cool and very gross at once. Use it if you want to be funny with your group. It is very informal and a bit silly. Everyone will know exactly what you mean, and they might laugh at your creative way of saying you felt bad.

• He is about to blow chunks there.
• Did she blow chunks at the party?
• You should not blow chunks in here.
• I might blow chunks from that pie.

Drive the Porcelain Bus

Funny phrases are the best for a bad situation. This is a very common joke among adults. It suggests you are spending your time in the bathroom. Use it when you want to make light of being stuck in the restroom. People will smile when they hear this. It turns a boring, sick time into a funny, little adventure story.

• He has to drive the porcelain bus.
• Did you drive the porcelain bus tonight?
• She was driving the porcelain bus all day.
• I am driving the porcelain bus again.

Discharge

Hospitals use this word for patients, but it sounds clinical. Use it if you are being very formal about a situation. It sounds like a system error. It is not for a chat with a friend. Use it if you need to be very clear and dry about what happened to someone after eating something that was very, very bad.

• The body will discharge the bad fish.
• Did the patient discharge anything at all?
• It is hard to discharge that much.
• They did discharge after the long flight.

Spew Forth

Old books use words like this to sound very grand. Use it if you want to be weird and funny. It sounds like a dragon is breathing out fire. Your friends will be confused but probably quite amused. It is a very silly way to describe a common, gross act. Use it when you want to sound like a wizard or a king.

• The dragon did spew forth the gold.
• Did you spew forth your lunch today?
• He will spew forth if he eats.
• I had to spew forth the bad food.

Paint the Town

Maybe this sounds like a fun night out, but it is a joke. It means you are making a big, gross mess. Use it when you want to be very ironic about being sick. It sounds like you are having a party, but you are not. People will know you are being sarcastic. It is a clever, dark, and very funny joke.

• He had to paint the town red.
• Did you paint the town green today?
• I will paint the town, unfortunately, soon.
• She painted the town after the meal.

“Throw Up” in Polite Society

Be Indisposed

Being fancy makes you sound very polite when you feel bad. Use this if you are at a party and need to leave. It hides the gross details very well. People will be kind and let you go without asking questions. It is a secret, classy way to tell people you need a bathroom right now, without being rude or gross.

• I am feeling a bit indisposed today.
• Is she indisposed in the other room?
• You look a little indisposed right now.
• We were indisposed after the long meal.

Experience Digestive Distress

Doctor words can be polite if you use them right. This phrase sounds very clean and very safe. Use it when you want to tell a host why you are leaving early. It sounds like you have a serious, quiet problem. Everyone will be very understanding and sweet to you. It is a great way to keep your dignity while feeling really awful.

• I am experiencing digestive distress right now.
• Did he experience digestive distress at dinner?
• She experienced digestive distress all evening long.
• We hope you do not experience distress.

Need a Moment

Everyone needs a break sometimes, so use this phrase. It is the most polite way to hide a sickness. No one needs to know what you are doing in the bathroom. It gives you privacy and dignity. Use it when you are in a meeting or with new people who do not know you very well yet.

• I need a moment in the room.
• Do you need a moment, my friend?
• She needs a moment to feel better.
• We all need a moment sometimes, really.

Take a Leave

Leaving the room is a good way to handle feeling sick. This phrase sounds professional and very calm to use. You can say it to your boss or a client. It sounds like you are just going to get some air. It keeps the focus off your health and helps you get to the bathroom in peace.

• Please excuse me, I must take leave.
• Did he take leave from the table?
• You should take leave if you feel bad.
• She had to take leave, very suddenly.

Excuse Myself

Politeness is key in public, so use this classic phrase. It tells people you are going away for a second. They will not ask where you are going. It is a simple, perfect way to save face. Use it whenever you feel the need to rush out of a room, because it works in every possible social situation you find.

• I must excuse myself for a moment.
• Did she excuse herself after the soup?
• You should excuse yourself if you feel ill.
• He excused himself and left the room.

Need Fresh Air

Walking away is easier if you have a good reason. This phrase sounds much better than saying you are sick. People will think you just need a breeze. It is a gentle lie that helps you escape to a quiet place. Use it when you are at a crowded event and you feel your stomach turning on you fast.

• I think I need fresh air now.
• Does he need fresh air, poor guy?
• You need fresh air to feel better.
• She needed fresh air after the dance.

Final Thoughts

I hope this list helps you find the right words for any situation. Whether you are with friends or at work, you now have plenty of ways to say how you feel. Just pick the one that fits best, and don’t worry about being perfect. Take care of your health today.