Phrasal verb
go down with
Definition
phrasal verb. to become sick with a specific illness, like the flu or a cold.
phrasal verb. to contract or succumb to a minor illness; typically used with non-life-threatening infectious diseases.
Examples
“Half the class has gone down with the flu.”
“I think I am going down with a cold because my throat feels very sore.”
“Several members of the expedition went down with a mysterious fever, forcing the team to halt their progress and set up a temporary camp.”
Examples
simple
“Half the class has gone down with the flu.”
contextual
“I think I am going down with a cold because my throat feels very sore.”
complex
“Several members of the expedition went down with a mysterious fever, forcing the team to halt their progress and set up a temporary camp.”
Usage
usually followed by the name of a common illness like 'the flu', 'a cold', or 'food poisoning'.
Teaching tip
contrast with 'catch' (the moment of infection) and 'have' (the state of being sick); 'go down with' emphasizes the transition from health to illness.
Pitfall
He went down with a broken leg.
He had a broken leg.
this phrase is only used for illnesses or infections, not for physical injuries like breaks or cuts.
Phrasal verb
Particles
down with
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
go + down + with + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/go-down-with