# come down with

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/come-down-with
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to start to get sick with a minor illness like a cold or the flu.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He came down with a broken leg." but "He broke his leg." — this phrase is only used for illnesses like viruses or infections, not for physical injuries.

## Usage notes

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.