Catch a cold

Meaning

The idiom "catch a cold" means to become infected with the common cold virus. It can also figuratively mean to suffer from something unpleasant or negative, such as a difficult situation or a bad mood.

Usage

• I caught a cold last week and now I'm feeling so drained and sluggish.
• My boss gave me a really tough project to work on - it feels like catching a cold!
• My friend always seems to catch a cold whenever we go out for dinner.
• The weather forecast predicted sunny skies, but it ended up raining, catching us all off guard.
• I'm feeling really down lately, like I've caught a cold in my head.

Roots and History

The origin of the idiom "catch a cold" is unclear, but it has been used since at least the mid-19th century. One theory suggests that the phrase comes from the idea of catching a feeling of being down or discouraged, similar to how one catches a cold virus. Another theory suggests that the phrase comes from the physical sensation of feeling chilled or frozen, which can be a symptom of the common cold.

Synonyms in English

• "Get sick" or "fall ill"
• "Come down with something" or "catch a bug"
• "Get a virus" or "come down with the flu"
• "Feel under the weather" or "be feeling unwell"
• "Have a bad case of something"

Synonyms in other languages

• In Spanish, the idiom "tirar mal" (to throw a spell) means to get ill or sick.
• In French, the idiom "avoir le charme" (to have the charm) means to be feeling down or discouraged.
• In German, the idiom "abgesehen vom Wetter" (except for the weather) means that everything else is going well, even if it's raining outside.
• In Italian, the idiom "avere una gamba di freddo" (to have a cold leg) means to feel down or discouraged.
• In Portuguese, the idiom "ter o pescoço ao gelo" (to have a stiff neck) means to be feeling very negative or upset.

Similar Idioms

• cut and thrust

• cutting edge

• catnap