How do you use "catch a cold" in a sentence?

I caught a cold from someone at the office. Put a coat on or you'll catch a cold. She caught a cold and had to stay in bed for three days.

catch a cold

Q: What does "catch a cold" mean?

To become infected with a common cold virus We say 'catch a cold' not 'get a cold' (though 'get' is also used informally). 'Catch' is the standard verb collocating with cold, flu, and other infectious illnesses — using the metaphor of catching something thrown at you.

Collocation BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Neutral

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Meaning: To become infected with a common cold virus

感冒

resfriarse

風邪をひく

감기에 걸리다

We say 'catch a cold' not 'get a cold' (though 'get' is also used informally). 'Catch' is the standard verb collocating with cold, flu, and other infectious illnesses — using the metaphor of catching something thrown at you.

我们说'catch a cold'而不是'get a cold'（尽管'get'也可非正式使用）。'catch'是与感冒、流感和其他传染病搭配的标准动词——使用了接住被扔过来的东西的比喻。

Decimos 'catch a cold' y no 'get a cold' (aunque 'get' también se usa informalmente). 'Catch' es el verbo estándar que se combina con cold, flu y otras enfermedades infecciosas, usando la metáfora de atrapar algo que te lanzan.

「catch a cold」と言い、「get a cold」とは通常言いません（ただし「get」も非公式に使われます）。「catch」は風邪、インフルエンザ、その他の感染症と組み合わせる標準的な動詞で、投げられたものをキャッチするという比喩を使っています。

감기에 걸리는 것을 'catch a cold'라고 합니다 (비격식적으로 'get a cold'도 사용됨). 'Catch'는 감기, 독감 등 전염성 질병과 함께 쓰이는 표준 동사로, 누군가가 던진 것을 잡는다는 비유를 사용합니다.

Examples

I caught a cold from someone at the office.
我从办公室同事那里感染了感冒。
Me resfrié por culpa de alguien de la oficina.
職場の誰かから風邪をもらいました。
직장 동료에게서 감기에 걸렸습니다.
Put a coat on or you'll catch a cold.
穿件外套，不然会感冒的。
Ponte el abrigo o te resfriarás.
コートを着なさい、さもないと風邪をひきますよ。
코트를 입어라, 안 그러면 감기에 걸린다.
She caught a cold and had to stay in bed for three days.
她感冒了，不得不卧床三天。
Se resfrió y tuvo que quedarse en cama tres días.
彼女は風邪をひいて3日間寝込まなければなりませんでした。
그녀는 감기에 걸려서 3일 동안 누워 있어야 했습니다.

Pronunciation

Usage Guide

Context: health, everyday, winter

Tone: descriptive

✓ Do Say

I think I've caught a cold.
我好像感冒了。
Creo que me he resfriado.
風邪をひいたかもしれません。
감기에 걸린 것 같아요.
Be careful not to catch a cold.
小心别感冒了。
Ten cuidado de no resfriarte.
風邪をひかないように気をつけて。
감기에 걸리지 않도록 조심하세요.
I caught a cold yesterday.
我昨天感冒了。
Ayer me resfrié.
昨日、風邪をひきました。
어제 감기에 걸렸어요.
I caught a cold from my colleague.
我被同事传染感冒了。
Me contagié un resfriado de mi colega.
同僚から風邪をうつされました。
동료한테 감기가 옮았어요.

✗ Don't Say

I took a cold yesterday. (use 'caught' not 'took' for getting a cold)
我昨天took了一场感冒。（用'caught'而不是'took'来表示感冒）
Ayer took un resfriado. (se usa 'caught' y no 'took' para resfriarse)
昨日、風邪をtookしました。（風邪には'took'ではなく'caught'を使います）
어제 감기를 가져왔어요. (감기에 걸리다는 'took'가 아닌 'caught'를 사용합니다)
I received a cold from my colleague. (use 'caught' not 'received' — colds are 'caught', not 'received')
我从同事那received了感冒。（用'caught'而不是'received'——感冒是'caught'的，不是'received'的）
Received un resfriado de mi colega. (se usa 'caught' y no 'received' — los resfriados se 'catch', no se 'receive')
同僚から風邪をreceivedしました。（'received'ではなく'caught'を使います——風邪は'catch'するもので、'receive'するものではありません）
동료에게서 감기를 받았어요. ('received'가 아닌 'caught'를 사용하세요 — 감기는 'catch'하는 것이지 'receive'하는 것이 아닙니다)

Origin & History

Natural English collocation — 'catch' has been paired with diseases since the 16th century, from the idea of 'catching' or intercepting an illness.

Cultural Context

Era: 16th century onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal