Down With Some Disease

( because of sickness one is unable to get up and go out ... )

A person who is "down with" a sickness cannot get up and do healthy things because of that sickness. Example: "I can't come to work today. I'm down with the flu." Another example: "My mother can't be here today because she is down with cancer."

You are "down with" that illness when because of that illness you cannot get up and go out. Example: "All of our children are down with the measles." Reply: "We hope they will be back in school next week."