---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Oh,” I said. I felt like I’d just…"
description: "\"“Oh,” I said. I felt like I’d just swallowed a boot: sick and lumpy. “Are you okay?” the blond kid asked me. “You look like you just swallowed a boot.”..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/james-patterson-171_swallowed_oh-i-said-i-felt-like-i-d-just-swallowed_1781524.png"
---

#  Oh,” I said. I felt like I’d just swallowed a boot: sick…

![“Oh,” I said. I felt like I’d just swallowed a boot: sick and lumpy. “Are you okay?” the blond kid asked me. “You look like you just swallowed a boot.” quote by James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/james-patterson-171_swallowed_oh-i-said-i-felt-like-i-d-just-swallowed_1781524.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/james-patterson-171_swallowed_oh-i-said-i-felt-like-i-d-just-swallowed_1781524.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/james-patterson-171_swallowed_oh-i-said-i-felt-like-i-d-just-swallowed_1781524.png)

> ““Oh,” I said. I felt like I’d just swallowed a boot: sick and lumpy. “Are you okay?” the blond kid asked me. “You look like you just swallowed a boot.””

[James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker feels nauseous and compares the sensation to swallowing a boot, highlighting discomfort and concern from others.

**In simple terms:** Feeling sick and uneasy, others notice and ask if okay.

Key Takeaway

Acknowledge discomfort and seek help.

Themes

discomfort empathy health

Mood

uneasy concerned

Type

narrative descriptive

When to use this quote

- illness
- unexpected pain
- social concern

Key Concepts

physical sensation social interaction

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you respond when someone notices your discomfort?
- What does this metaphor reveal about your state?

A Different Perspective

May mask underlying issues; not all discomfort is physical.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Felt Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt-like/) [Just Swallowed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-swallowed-1866639/) [Kid Asked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kid-asked-1455747/) [Swallowed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swallowed/) [Swallowed Boot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swallowed-boot-1866638/)

## Related quotes

> [Life just swallowed me up for a few years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ant-mcpartlin/life-just-swallowed-me-up-for-a-few-years/)

[Ant McPartlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ant-mcpartlin/)

> [Have you ever looked at someone and said to yourself Life would be so much better if their mom had just swallowed?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephanie/have-you-ever-looked-at-someone-and-said-to-yourself-life-would-be-so/)

[Stephanie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephanie/)

> [I am in England and the food here is not to be tasted as much as just swallowed without grimacing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-gilbert/i-am-in-england-and-the-food-here-is-not-to-be-tasted-as-much-as-just/)

[Kristen Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-gilbert/)

> [“Michael applied himself better than I did at school. His thirst for knowledge was far greater than any of the rest of us. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jermaine-jackson/michael-applied-himself-better-than-i-did-at-school-his-thirst-for/)

[Jermaine Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jermaine-jackson/)

> [I tried to talk my daughter out of going with a hockey player but, he's a good kid. He asked me if he could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-esposito/i-tried-to-talk-my-daughter-out-of-going-with-a-hockey-player-but-he/)

[Phil Esposito](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-esposito/)

> [“I said if I get her pregnant, I’d get to name our kid. She asked what I’d call it. I said, Tinkledink Swollengorge. She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-said-if-i-get-her-pregnant-i-d-get-to-name-our-kid-she-asked-what-i/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [A kid asked me for advise about getting into entertainment? I said you better know how to be happy being broke!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnell-rawlings/a-kid-asked-me-for-advise-about-getting-into-entertainment-i-said-you/)

[Donnell Rawlings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnell-rawlings/)

> [Well when I was a kid, I asked Santa Claus for some toys. Santa Claus wrote me a letter that he lost his bag.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benicio-del-toro/well-when-i-was-a-kid-i-asked-santa-claus-for-some-toys-santa-claus/)

[Benicio Del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benicio-del-toro/)

> [“Some kid asked what a dilemma is. And I replied: When a starving man has to choose between a plate of food, and, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/some-kid-asked-what-a-dilemma-is-and-i-replied-when-a-starving-man/)

[Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/)

> [I have always been the kid who's asked 'Why?' In my faith, you're just supposed to have faith. But I was always like... why?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-perry/i-have-always-been-the-kid-who-s-asked-why-in-my-faith-you-re-just/)

[Katy Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-perry/)

> [When I was a kid, if you asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, the answer was easy - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-thomas/when-i-was-a-kid-if-you-asked-me-what-i-wanted-to-be-when-i-grew-up/)

[Angie Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-thomas/)

> [When I was a kid, if someone had asked who I'd meet if it could be anyone in the world, it would've been Liam…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-mccoy/when-i-was-a-kid-if-someone-had-asked-who-i-d-meet-if-it-could-be/)

[Tony McCoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-mccoy/)

> [I've been told I looked like I swallowed an elephant or a pig, whichever was more fitting that day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katelyn-ohashi/i-ve-been-told-i-looked-like-i-swallowed-an-elephant-or-a-pig/)

[Katelyn Ohashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katelyn-ohashi/)

> [Is it true? You had a clean getaway and risked it all for me?" I Swallowed. "It wouldn't have been a clean getaway without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/is-it-true-you-had-a-clean-getaway-and-risked-it-all-for-me-i/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [“For a long time before I met you, I felt my life was this kind of test. I was in deep, cold water, swimming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-raeder/for-a-long-time-before-i-met-you-i-felt-my-life-was-this-kind-of-test/)

[Leah Raeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-raeder/)

## More by James Patterson

> [It was a little weird that they were friends. But then, maybe freaks just tended to find each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/it-was-a-little-weird-that-they-were-friends-but-then-maybe-freaks/)

[James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/)

> [“The next forty-five minutes in that office was about as much fun as a day at Disney World—when it’s pouring rain. And all there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/the-next-forty-five-minutes-in-that-office-was-about-as-much-fun-as-a/)

[James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/)

> [As we go through this transition where a lot more people will be reading on devices, nobody is paying enough attention to make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/as-we-go-through-this-transition-where-a-lot-more-people-will-be/)

[James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/)

> [Max—you have a bigger mission than finding the flock's parents. Focus on helping the whole world, not just your friends. I held my wings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/max-you-have-a-bigger-mission-than-finding-the-flock-s-parents-focus/)

[James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/)

> [You're lying through your fangs," Iggy accused. Fang tried to play innocent--but "innocent Fang" is an oxymoron, so it didn't work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/you-re-lying-through-your-fangs-iggy-accused-fang-tried-to-play/)

[James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/)

> [There are reasons people seek escape in books, and one of those reasons is that the boundary of what can happen is beyond what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/there-are-reasons-people-seek-escape-in-books-and-one-of-those/)

[James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/)

> [I shot him the bird. (Get it? I shot him the—never mind.)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/i-shot-him-the-bird-get-it-i-shot-him-the-never-mind/)

[James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/)

> [I get up every morning and chop wood, and I pretty much do it seven days a week, and I like to do it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/i-get-up-every-morning-and-chop-wood-and-i-pretty-much-do-it-seven/)

[James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/)

> [Witihin seconds the headhunter had lost control of his car and it squealed, sliding sideways right into several other cars. Cool!' said the Gasman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/witihin-seconds-the-headhunter-had-lost-control-of-his-car-and-it/)

[James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/)

> [“It was scary. More than Sara could possibly know. More than anybody ought to know, or ever would. History wasn't for the general public--it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/it-was-scary-more-than-sara-could-possibly-know-more-than-anybody/)

[James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/)

> [Did I want a dog? No. Did I need a dog? Also no. We were six kids running for our lives, not knowing where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/did-i-want-a-dog-no-did-i-need-a-dog-also-no-we-were-six-kids-running/)

[James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/)

> [I'm a girl who has been tamping down her emotions and keeping them tightly guarded her whole life. And that works really well for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/i-m-a-girl-who-has-been-tamping-down-her-emotions-and-keeping-them/)

[James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/)

> [When my son, Jack, was four, I had to make a trip to Los Angeles. I asked him if he was going to miss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/when-my-son-jack-was-four-i-had-to-make-a-trip-to-los-angeles-i-asked/)

[James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/)

> [“that kid’s nothing but a little hoodlum.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/that-kid-s-nothing-but-a-little-hoodlum/)

[James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/)

> [Jeezum—humans were like eggshells.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/jeezum-humans-were-like-eggshells/)

[James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/)

[Explore all 983 James Patterson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/)

## More Swallowed quotes

> [“For a long time before I met you, I felt my life was this kind of test. I was in deep, cold water, swimming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-raeder/for-a-long-time-before-i-met-you-i-felt-my-life-was-this-kind-of-test/)

[Leah Raeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-raeder/)

> [Is it true? You had a clean getaway and risked it all for me?" I Swallowed. "It wouldn't have been a clean getaway without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/is-it-true-you-had-a-clean-getaway-and-risked-it-all-for-me-i/)

[Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/)

> [I've been told I looked like I swallowed an elephant or a pig, whichever was more fitting that day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katelyn-ohashi/i-ve-been-told-i-looked-like-i-swallowed-an-elephant-or-a-pig/)

[Katelyn Ohashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katelyn-ohashi/)

> [“You get everything you need?” She squealed like an idiot and whirled around to see him smirking at her. “JeSUS!” She glared at him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-young/you-get-everything-you-need-she-squealed-like-an-idiot-and-whirled/)

[Samantha Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-young/)

> [“Here, I meant to put you at your ease but instead I've got you closed up against me again like a pretty little clam."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-anne-warren/here-i-meant-to-put-you-at-your-ease-but-instead-i-ve-got-you-closed/)

[Tracy Anne Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-anne-warren/)

> [“Anna swallowed and pulled out a chair. She sat and folded her hands on her lap. She felt like she was in trouble. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-charlins/anna-swallowed-and-pulled-out-a-chair-she-sat-and-folded-her-hands-on/)

[Claire Charlins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-charlins/)

> [“How will you feel when you're being swallowed up?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-schneider/how-will-you-feel-when-you-re-being-swallowed-up/)

[michel schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-schneider/)

> [“Zoe swallowed, wishing she hadn’t started the list on her”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanya-anne-crosby/zoe-swallowed-wishing-she-hadn-t-started-the-list-on-her/)

[Tanya Anne Crosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanya-anne-crosby/)

> [“spills of mire I swallowed inside the tower”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-celan/spills-of-mire-i-swallowed-inside-the-tower/)

[Paul Celan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-celan/)

> [“I never swallowed before. The idea of it wigged me out, but not with him. Apparently, it was my inner porn star.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-lynn/i-never-swallowed-before-the-idea-of-it-wigged-me-out-but-not-with/)

[J. Lynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-lynn/)

> [“I live well! I may have been swallowed, but I have no intention of being eaten.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-barnett/i-live-well-i-may-have-been-swallowed-but-i-have-no-intention-of/)

[Mac Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-barnett/)

> [“She swallowed it. So bitter. "Vile," she said. "Vile." "I know, but it helps. Trust me. I know." "Trust you," she said. "Hah." "Clearly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loretta-chase/she-swallowed-it-so-bitter-vile-she-said-vile-i-know-but-it-helps/)

[Loretta Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loretta-chase/)

> [We're swallowed up only when we are willing for it to happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathalie-sarraute/we-re-swallowed-up-only-when-we-are-willing-for-it-to-happen/)

[Nathalie Sarraute](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathalie-sarraute/)

> [“By lack of understanding they remained sane. They simply swallowed everything, and what they swallowed did them no harm, because it left no residue…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/by-lack-of-understanding-they-remained-sane-they-simply-swallowed/)

[George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/)

> [“She reminded me of the empty glass of a swallowed cocktail, and at the heart of the empty glass was a smashed lime rind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nic-pizzolatto/she-reminded-me-of-the-empty-glass-of-a-swallowed-cocktail-and-at-the/)

[Nic Pizzolatto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nic-pizzolatto/)

[Browse all 322 Swallowed quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swallowed/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Oh,” I said. I felt like I’d just swallowed a boot: sick and lumpy. “Are you okay?” the blond kid asked me. “You look like you just swallowed a boot.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "James Patterson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/oh-i-said-i-felt-like-i-d-just-swallowed-a-boot-sick-and-lumpy-are/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Swallowed"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/oh-i-said-i-felt-like-i-d-just-swallowed-a-boot-sick-and-lumpy-are/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/james-patterson-171_swallowed_oh-i-said-i-felt-like-i-d-just-swallowed_1781524.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/james-patterson-171_swallowed_oh-i-said-i-felt-like-i-d-just-swallowed_1781524.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/635/james-patterson-171_swallowed_oh-i-said-i-felt-like-i-d-just-swallowed_1781524.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Oh,” I said. I felt like I’d just swallowed a boot: sick and lumpy. “Are you okay?” the blond kid asked me…” — James Patterson",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "James Patterson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Oh,” I said. I felt like...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/oh-i-said-i-felt-like-i-d-just-swallowed-a-boot-sick-and-lumpy-are/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/oh-i-said-i-felt-like-i-d-just-swallowed-a-boot-sick-and-lumpy-are/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
