pale around the gills
• pale/blue/green around the gills
looking sick
The man looked pale around the gills when he left the boat.

My colleague was looking a little pale around the gills when he came to work today.

My friend looked green around the gills after the long bus ride.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

pale around the gills
{adj. phr.}, {slang} Pale-faced from fear or sickness; sickly; nauseated.
Bill's father took him for a ride in his boat while the waves were rough, and when he came back he was green around the gills.

The car almost hit Mary crossing the street, and she was pale around the gills because it came so close.
- Also used with other prepositions besides "around", as "about", "at", "under", and with other colors, as "blue", "pink", "yellow", "white".
See: GREEN AROUND THE GILLS.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲