Phrasal verb
come down with
Definition
phrasal verb. to start to get sick with a minor illness like a cold or the flu.
phrasal verb. to begin to suffer from a non-serious medical condition or infectious disease; functions as an intransitive-style phrasal verb requiring a specific object.
Examples
“I think I am coming down with a cold.”
“Half the office came down with the flu after the holiday party last week.”
“Just as the final exams were approaching, she unfortunately came down with a severe case of strep throat that required immediate bed rest.”
Examples
simple
“I think I am coming down with a cold.”
contextual
“Half the office came down with the flu after the holiday party last week.”
complex
“Just as the final exams were approaching, she unfortunately came down with a severe case of strep throat that required immediate bed rest.”
Usage
usually followed by the name of a common, non-life-threatening illness.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'contract' (formal) or 'catch' (more active); 'come down with' suggests the feeling of the illness starting to affect the body.
Pitfall
He came down with a broken leg.
He broke his leg.
this phrase is only used for illnesses like viruses or infections, not for physical injuries.
Phrasal verb
Particles
down with
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
come + down + with + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/come-down-with