contract a cold

USAGE SUMMARY

'contract a cold' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to when someone catches a cold, either through coming into contact with someone who has a cold, or having their immunity weakened by low temperatures or other factors. For example: "Unfortunately, I contracted a cold after spending the day outside in the cold weather."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Studies show that, if you contract a cold, you can transmit it to others one or two days before your symptoms appear, and up to four or five days after first being exposed to the virus.

Columbia University

Protect Your Hands: We live in a time when we're all aware of just how easy it is to contract a cold or The Flu with the touch of a hand.

WikiHow

Stay Clear of Excess Germs by Keeping Your Hands Clean: We live in a time when we're all aware of just how easy it is to contract a cold or The Flu with the touch of a hand.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Some regularly take supplements to reduce their risk of contracting a cold.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He is not liable for breach of contract to a visitor who finds the building without fuel, and thus contracts a cold.

Harvard University

He contracted a cold that later developed into pneumonia, and, after one month's service, he became the first president to die in office.

Encyclopedia Britannica

She then contracted a cold and dropped out after only 600m of the world cross country championships in Ostend and has since concentrated on road running.

The Guardian - Sport

At times, the film passes from the weepy to the faintly ridiculous – when Babe is nursed back to health after contracting a cold, Farmer Hoggett does a full-on dance to the rousing theme song, If I Had Words.

The Guardian - Film

The aim of the study was to determine if a bovine lactoferrin/whey protein Ig-rich fraction (Lf/IgF) combination was effective in reducing the number of colds and in turn improving symptom recovery in a cohort of males and females that reported frequently contracting a cold.

Complementary Therapies in Medicine

So does it make a difference to your chances of contracting a cold?

BBC

Every couple of years a new study is published showing that echinacea either does or doesn't reduce your risk of contracting a cold.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about health or medical topics, use "contract a cold" to accurately describe the process of acquiring the illness. This phrasing is clear and widely understood.

Common error

Avoid using verbs like "accept" or "receive" in place of "contract" when referring to illnesses. "Contract" specifically implies the acquisition of a disease, whereas other verbs do not carry the same specific meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "contract a cold" functions as a verb phrase where "contract" is the verb indicating the action of acquiring the illness (a cold) which functions as the direct object. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is usable in written English to describe someone catching a cold.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "contract a cold" is a grammatically correct and commonly understood way to describe the act of acquiring a cold. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While not extremely frequent, it appears in a variety of contexts including news, encyclopedias, and academic sources. Alternative phrases like "catch a cold" or "get a cold" can be used as synonyms. When using the phrase, ensure that "contract" is used to specifically indicate the acquisition of a disease rather than a more general term.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

catch a cold

Similar meaning, using a different verb.

get a cold

A more general way to describe acquiring a cold.

come down with a cold

Describes the onset of a cold using a phrasal verb.

develop a cold

Focuses on the progression of the cold.

pick up a cold

Implies acquiring the cold from the environment or another person.

acquire a cold

A more formal synonym for getting a cold.

be infected with a cold

Focuses on the infection aspect of having a cold.

suffer from a cold

Emphasizes the experience of having a cold.

be afflicted with a cold

A more dramatic way of saying someone has a cold.

succumb to a cold

Suggests a weakening of resistance leading to the cold.

FAQs

How can I use "contract a cold" in a sentence?

You can use "contract a cold" to describe the act of getting a cold. For example, "She "contracted a cold" after being exposed to the virus."

What does it mean to "contract a cold"?

To "contract a cold" means to catch or get a cold, typically through exposure to a virus. It describes the process of becoming infected.

Are there other ways to say "contract a cold"?

Yes, you can also say "catch a cold", "get a cold", or "come down with a cold". These phrases are all commonly used to describe the same experience.

Is "contract a cold" formal or informal?

"Contract a cold" is generally considered a neutral term and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. It's appropriate for medical writing, news reports, and everyday conversation.