If something is "nothing to sneeze at," then it deserves some serious attention, so much so that you should start taking daily Zyrtec & Flonase.[1] Especially so if that something is an open cavity.
Example
SURGEON 1 (pointing into a patient's bowels during the middle of an ex lap): Would you look at this small bowel obstruction? This is certainly nothing to sneeze at.
SURGEON 2 (Unable to hold it in, begins sneezing into the open abdominal cavity): Ahhhhh-CHOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! (Sniffles, then wipes snot on sleeve.)
SURGEON 1 (Miffed): Damn it! What did I just say?
SURGEON 2: Sorry, pollen's acting up.
Additional Reading
- Cough
- EpiPen
- SOB
References