catch a cold

Meaning

'Catch a cold' means to become infected with a common cold virus, resulting in mild illness symptoms like sneezing, coughing, or a runny nose. It is a standard, neutral expression.

Examples

• Wear a warm jacket so you don't catch a cold outside.

  Wear a warm jacket so you don't catch a cold outside.

• I think I caught a cold from one of my coworkers last week.

  I think I caught a cold from one of my coworkers last week.

• He catches a cold every time winter starts.

  He catches a cold every time winter starts.

• Wash your hands often to avoid catching a cold.

  Wash your hands often to avoid catching a cold.

• I can't come to the party because I caught a bad cold.

  I can't come to the party because I caught a bad cold.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I took a cold last weekend.

  ✓ I caught a cold last weekend.

  In English, we 'catch' or 'get' a cold. We do not use the verb 'take' for illnesses.

• ✗ She has caught cold.

  ✓ She has caught a cold.

  The expression requires the indefinite article 'a' before 'cold' when referring to the illness.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If you don't dry your hair, you might ___.

  💡 To become sick with a mild respiratory virus.

  Show answer

  catch a cold

• I think I ___ during my flight back home.

  💡 Past tense of getting a cold.

  Show answer

  caught a cold