picked up a cold

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "picked up a cold" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of becoming ill with a cold, often implying that it was contracted from someone or something. Example: "After spending the weekend with my sick friend, I unfortunately picked up a cold."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

He picked up a cold at the Sundance film festival, where It Follows recently had its US premiere, and it's been following him around ever since.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

He helped pick up a cold, gloomy day for the writer.

The New Yorker

I've had a voice like Rod Stewart all week, very croaky, after picking up a cold during our house move.

Independent

This may be cost-effective, in the face of across-the-board winter fuel hikes, but can put you in serious risk of picking up a cold.

Independent

This season Raylan picks up a cold case that's over thirty years in the making.

Huffington Post

Lastly, make sure to pick up a cold brew from our favorite shop, Stumptown".

Huffington Post

Something may indeed be lost in picking up a cold brew coffee at the global coffee giant rather than at your local coffee store, run by your local hipsters.

Huffington Post

Read these articles Pick Up a Woman and Cold Approach a Girl if you have problem approaching random girls.

WikiHow

He picked up a small cold and then for five weeks was knocked out by it.

The Guardian - Sport

"Free Eagle has picked up a head cold and we've decided to be cautious," Dermot Weld, the colt's trainer, said on Wednesday.

The Guardian - Sport

She marvels at how many teams flocked to one emergency – the respiratory, the intensive care and the crash teams, each with their own consultants: "And they say doctors aren't there at weekends!" She came off duty hardly knowing if it was night or day, having picked up a bad cold.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "picked up a cold", consider the context. It implies acquiring the illness from an external source, such as another person or environment.

Common error

Avoid using "picked up a cold" when the cause is internal, such as stress or fatigue. Opt for alternatives like "came down with a cold" or "developed a cold" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "picked up a cold" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of acquiring an illness. Ludwig AI confirms this is correct and usable English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "picked up a cold" is a common and generally accepted way to describe catching a cold, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It implies that the cold was acquired from an external source, such as another person or environment. While widely used in news and media, as well as in general conversation, it's important to consider the context and potential alternatives like "caught a cold" or "came down with a cold". Avoid using it when the cause is internal. Overall, "picked up a cold" remains a useful and understandable way to express contracting a common illness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

caught a cold

Focuses on the action of catching the illness, a common and direct alternative.

got a cold

A simple and informal way to express having contracted the illness.

contracted a cold

Emphasizes a more formal or clinical tone in acquiring the illness.

came down with a cold

Describes the onset of the illness, implying a gradual decline in health.

became sick with a cold

Similar to 'took ill', emphasizing the resulting sickness.

developed a cold

Similar to 'came down with', suggesting the illness evolved over time.

suffered from a cold

Highlights the negative experience of having the illness.

was infected with a cold

Highlights the infectious nature of the illness.

succumbed to a cold

Suggests a vulnerability to the illness.

took ill with a cold

Focuses on the state of being ill as a result of the cold.

FAQs

What does "picked up a cold" mean?

The phrase "picked up a cold" means that someone has caught or contracted a cold, usually implying that they got it from someone or somewhere. It suggests an external source of infection.

What can I say instead of "picked up a cold"?

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

Is "picked up a cold" formal or informal?

"Picked up a cold" is generally considered informal and is suitable for everyday conversation. More formal alternatives include "contracted a cold".

How is "picked up a cold" different from "have a cold"?

"Picked up a cold" emphasizes the act of acquiring the illness, while "have a cold" simply states the current condition of being ill. For example: "I picked up a cold after traveling" versus "I have a cold and feel terrible".