caught sick

USAGE SUMMARY

"caught sick" is not a correct phrase in written English.
To express the concept of becoming sick, you would use the phrase "came down with" instead. Example: He came down with the flu over the weekend.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Fishermen had always believed that sharks had low rates of disease, because they never caught sick ones.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

But members of the public are being warned not to try and catch sick seabirds.

BBC

The danger in this rigmarole is that Demjanjuk was caught playing sick when he was trying to stave off extradition from the US.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mice can catch chills and get sick quickly if the temperature changes too much.

WikiHow

Or how it feels to catch a sick wave.

HuffPost

Later that evening, as the sun was getting golden in the sky, my husband ran through the bulging fruit trees trying to catch the sick chicken.

Huffington Post

Only about one in five people who catch the Zika virus will get sick, according to the CDC.

Vice

His criticism of the Republican Party's alleged view on health care, "Don't get sick, and if you do get sick, die quickly," caught fire and was celebrated by many liberal donors.

The New York Times

"Irma caught me already sick and now Maria has caught me and I'm sicker," he said.

The Guardian

We caught some last week, and we didn't get sick.

Los Angeles Times

My mother scolds me whenever she catches me, tells me I'm going to get sick, or worse.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "caught sick" in formal writing. Opt for more standard expressions like "became ill" or "contracted a disease" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Using "caught" to describe becoming sick is often a misuse of the verb. "Caught" typically refers to acquiring something tangible (e.g., a ball), not a state of being (e.g., illness). Use "became", "fell", or "contracted" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "caught sick" functions as an informal way to describe the onset of illness, although it deviates from standard grammatical usage. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is not a correct written english.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "caught sick" may be understood in informal contexts, it's grammatically incorrect and not recommended for formal or professional writing. Better alternatives include "became ill", "fell sick", or "contracted a disease". Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is not considered correct in written English. When communicating about health, clarity and accuracy are essential, so opting for standard expressions will enhance your writing's credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

became ill

A general and widely accepted phrase for becoming sick.

fell sick

Similar to "became ill", but slightly more formal and less common.

came down with an illness

More formal and standard way to express becoming ill.

developed an illness

Suggests the gradual onset of sickness.

contracted a disease

Implies acquiring a specific disease or infection.

became infected

Specifically refers to becoming infected with a pathogen.

took ill

An older, somewhat formal way of saying became sick.

was stricken with

Suggests a sudden and often severe onset of illness.

succumbed to an illness

Implies a loss of resistance to a disease.

picked up a bug

Informal, often used for minor illnesses like colds or flu.

FAQs

What's a better way to say "caught sick"?

Instead of "caught sick", use phrases like "became ill", "contracted a disease", or "fell sick".

Is it grammatically correct to say "caught sick"?

No, "caught sick" is not grammatically correct in standard English. The verb "catch" usually refers to acquiring something, not a state of being like illness. Use "became ill" or "fell sick" instead.

When can I use "caught" in relation to illness?

You can use "caught" when referring to catching a specific illness, such as "caught the flu" or "caught a cold". However, using "caught sick" on its own is incorrect.

Are there other ways to express the idea of becoming sick?

Yes, you can use phrases like "came down with an illness", "developed an illness", or simply "got sick".