On the Sick!

[smudge]

Why do some people refer to others who are off work as 'He's/She's on the sick'?

I know it probably goes back to the old days, when people were on 'the social security sick pay scheme', but whenever I hear it, I can't help thinking of  someone actually 'laying on the sick'!

I always refer to it as 'being off sick'! Is it me?

[acw]

I say "off sick".  Although the other week I had to call "in sick".  But I wasn't IN sick.  I called in - cos I was sick.  Just to clarify smudgey! :-)

[THECORBYLOON]

We speak about folk being "on the dole" don't we? Maybe it's from "on the sick list"(?) only guessing.

[silly moo]

Another one is "on the box" - not sure why.