caught a fever

USAGE SUMMARY

"caught a fever" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
For example: Yesterday, my mom caught a fever, so I stayed home to take care of her.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

In winter, he sometimes caught a fever.

The New Yorker

Trying to run away from home, the boy caught a fever.

The New Yorker

It was as if he had caught a fever, because after that he couldn't stop.

The New York Times

Exhausted from his labors, he caught a fever and left the pouring of the bronze to his assistants.

The New York Times - Arts

Greene, travelling with his cousin Barbara, left behind his medicine chest and when he caught a fever he almost died.

The Guardian - Travel

He was in the retreat from Mons, the Battle of the Marne and the first Battle of Ypres, before he caught a fever and was sent home.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

In firing his furnace to the necessary temperature, he set his studio roof alight and work continued in driving rain and wind, the strain and the heat caused him to catch a fever, the base of his mould flew off in an explosion and the copper congealed and would flow only once he threw all his household tin plates and cups into the melt.

The Guardian - Arts

"Many Muslim mothers still don't take their children for routine immunization because babies often catch a fever after a shot".

Unicef

In a country where New Money is king, concrete proof of the successful creed of can-do entrepreneurship, the nation's stylists have caught a new fever: that of restrained, tasteful consumerism.

The Guardian - Travel

I later caught a high fever and had to stay in the hospital until July 1945.

Huffington Post

Now, I walked this line right next to you With every step, the closer that we'll get Caught, in a fever that's so pure and true We'll paint the town, until it all burns down - Tor Miller, Carterr & Cash".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "caught a fever", consider the context and audience. While generally acceptable, more formal terms like "contracted a fever" might be preferred in academic or professional settings. Varying your vocabulary can enhance clarity and sophistication.

Common error

Avoid using "caught a fever" when the context suggests a more severe or specific illness. For example, instead of saying someone "caught a fever" during a malaria outbreak, specify that they contracted malaria to provide accurate and crucial information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "caught a fever" primarily functions as a verbal phrase indicating the sudden onset of an illness characterized by a fever. As Ludwig AI clarifies, it signifies the moment of becoming ill, similar to examples found in news and media sources.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "caught a fever" is a grammatically correct and understandable phrase indicating the sudden onset of a fever. While Ludwig AI confirms its usability, it is important to consider the context and audience when choosing this phrase. As the examples show, it appears most frequently in news and media, with neutral, leaning to informal tone. More formal options like "contracted a fever" may be suitable for academic or professional environments. Remember to distinguish between the onset of illness ("caught a fever") and the duration of the illness ("had a fever").

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

contracted a fever

Replaces "caught" with a more formal synonym "contracted".

developed a fever

Substitutes "caught" with "developed", emphasizing the gradual onset of the fever.

came down with a fever

Uses the idiomatic expression "came down with" instead of "caught".

was stricken with a fever

Employs "stricken with" to highlight the sudden and adverse nature of the illness.

succumbed to a fever

Implies a yielding to the illness, suggesting a more severe or debilitating condition.

picked up a fever

Uses "picked up" instead of "caught", suggesting transmission or exposure.

acquired a fever

Replaces "caught" with "acquired", a more technical or clinical term.

took ill with a fever

Employs "took ill with" to describe the onset of the fever.

was infected with a fever

Indicates that the fever is a result of an infection.

experienced a fever

Uses "experienced" to describe having a fever, removing the agency implied by "caught".

FAQs

What does "caught a fever" mean?

The phrase "caught a fever" means that someone has become ill and is experiencing a higher than normal body temperature. It implies the sudden onset of a fever, often due to an infection or illness.

What can I say instead of "caught a fever"?

You can use alternatives like "developed a fever", "contracted a fever", or "came down with a fever" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "catch a fever" or "caught a fever"?

"Catch a fever" is the infinitive form, used for general statements or possibilities. "Caught a fever" is the past tense, used to describe a specific instance when someone became ill with a fever. For example, "It's easy to catch a fever during flu season" versus "Yesterday, I caught a fever and had to stay home".

What's the difference between "caught a fever" and "had a fever"?

"Caught a fever" implies the moment of becoming ill, while "had a fever" refers to the duration of the illness. You might say "I caught a fever yesterday" and "I had a fever all night".