passer au court-bouillon

Question

Can someone translate "passer au court-bouillon" into English.  I can't find this anywhere.  Thank you.

Cécile Janty-Davies · Accepted Answer

Hi Carl,
As Paul says le court-bouillon is a stock used to poach fish or seafood. 
So in this context, it means his lungs feel as they have been boiled, in a very bad state.
In a figurative sense, the expression is normally used with 'la rate' ( spleen) in -
se mettre la rate au court-bouillon = to get yourself all stressed-up / to worry yourself sick 
Hope this helps!

Chris Wirt · Answer

Passer au court-bouillon. -- to turn bad.

Paul Fisquet · Answer

turning into a quickly cooked broth used for poaching fish and other seafood ? (It's all that I can come up with, but Chris is probably right)