# pill in the pocket

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/pill-in-the-pocket
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A medication, usually prescribed by a physician, which the patient is to carry with them, and which is to be used only under certain conditions.

## Examples

- The doctor gave me a pill in the pocket for my heart condition.
- My doctor prescribed a pill in the pocket to take only if I experience sudden chest pain.
- The physician explained that the patient should carry the medication as a pill in the pocket, to be administered solely upon the onset of specific symptoms.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.