acquire a cold

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "acquire a cold" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when referring to the act of catching or developing a cold, although "catch a cold" is more standard. Example: "After spending the day in the rain without a jacket, I think I might acquire a cold."

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

COPD patients who experience frequent exacerbations are more likely than those with less frequent exacerbations to acquire a cold, but both groups have approximately the same rates of COPD exacerbations once the cold has been acquired [ 29, 30].

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

I remember my daughter Maureen was very ill after complaining of acquiring a cold," she says.

Huffington Post

As the case passed to the F.B.I., it acquired a classic cold war plot: spy for competing superpower steals blueprints for America's premier bomb.

The New York Times

In order to treat these cases, we propose to extend forensics tools to work in combination with corrupted data acquired by a cold boot attack.

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

That this scumbag was able to acquire a handgun and use it to kill a bunch of innocent people in cold blood is awful enough.

Vice

Acquire a college education.

WikiHow

We explored the plasticity of different white adipose tissue depots in acquiring a brown phenotype by cold exposure.

American Journal of Physiology - Endocrinology and Metabolism

Acquire an eye patch.

WikiHow

Take a cold bath!

WikiHow

In their stiffening opposition to the administration's plans for missile defenses, congressional Democrats have acquired a strange nostalgia for the Cold War, when the U.S. and the Soviet Union depended on nuclear deterrence for security.

Los Angeles Times

It acquired a pedigree.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While grammatically correct, consider using more common phrases like "catch a cold" or "come down with a cold" for a more natural and idiomatic expression.

Common error

Avoid consistently using "acquire a cold" in contexts where more common phrases like "catch a cold" would sound more natural. Overuse can make your writing sound stilted or unnatural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "acquire a cold" functions as a verb phrase where "acquire" is the main verb and "a cold" is the direct object. This indicates the action of obtaining or contracting a common illness. Ludwig AI notes that more common alternatives exist.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while grammatically sound, "acquire a cold" is an uncommon phrase to describe catching a cold. Ludwig AI suggests that alternatives like "catch a cold" or "come down with a cold" are more frequently used and idiomatic. The phrase is understandable across various contexts, including news, science, and general writing, but its formal tone makes it less suitable for casual conversation. For more natural and impactful writing, consider opting for the more common alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

catch a cold

This is a more common and idiomatic way to express getting a cold.

come down with a cold

This phrase suggests the onset of a cold and feeling its effects.

develop a cold

This emphasizes the gradual progression of getting a cold.

contract a cold

Implies obtaining the cold from an external source or contact.

get a cold

A simple and direct way of saying you are ill with a cold.

pick up a cold

Suggests casually or inadvertently becoming infected with a cold.

be infected with a cold

Focuses on the infection aspect of having a cold.

fall ill with a cold

Highlights the state of illness due to the cold.

suffer from a cold

Emphasizes the unpleasant experience of having a cold.

succumb to a cold

Implies a yielding to the illness and its symptoms.

FAQs

What's a more common way to say "acquire a cold"?

The phrases "catch a cold" or "come down with a cold" are more commonly used and sound more natural in everyday conversation and writing.

Is "acquire a cold" grammatically incorrect?

No, "acquire a cold" is grammatically correct, but it's less common and can sound slightly formal or awkward compared to alternatives like "catch a cold".

When might I use "acquire a cold" instead of "catch a cold"?

You might use "acquire a cold" in more formal writing or when you want to emphasize the process of getting the illness. However, "catch a cold" is generally preferred for its simplicity and naturalness.

What are some other phrases similar to "acquire a cold"?

Other similar phrases include "develop a cold", "contract a cold", and "get a cold", although "catch a cold" remains the most common choice.