catch a cold

1.
Worldwidegeneral Englishneutralinformal
- To become infected with a common cold, a typically mild viral upper respiratory illness.
- To develop the symptoms associated with the common cold, such as a runny nose, sore throat, or cough.
2.
Worldwidegeneral Englishinformalidiomatic
- Figuratively, to suffer an adverse consequence or to come off worse as a result of exposure to an unfavourable situation.

Examples:

No examples available.