# go down with

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

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

## Definition

to become sick with a specific illness, like the flu or a cold.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He went down with a broken leg." but "He had a broken leg." — this phrase is only used for illnesses or infections, not for physical injuries like breaks or cuts.

## Usage notes

- 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.

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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.