Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
catch one's death. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
catch one's death, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
catch one's death in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
catch one's death you have here. The definition of the word
catch one's death will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
catch one's death, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Pronunciation
Verb
catch one's death (third-person singular simple present catches one's death, present participle catching one's death, simple past and past participle caught one's death)
- (idiomatic) To contract a serious illness, especially a nasty cold or other respiratory ailment and especially as a result of exposure to wet or chilly weather.
1824, Washington Irving, “The Adventure of Sam, the Black Fisherman”, in Tales of a Traveller:"You'll get drenched to the skin—You'll catch your death!" said Peechy Prauw, affectionately.
1848, Elizabeth Gaskell, chapter 6, in Mary Barton:"My eye as like! you don't think I'm such a fool as to catch my death of cold, and let the horses catch their death too."
1868, Louisa May Alcott, chapter 46, in Little Women:"You shall trudge away, and do your errands in the rain, and if you catch your death and ruin your bonnet, it's no more than you deserve."
- 1998, George Packer, Central Square, →ISBN, ch. 1 (New York Times reprint):
- Now Linda's catching her death outside in nothing but her nightie.
2009 February 9, Gareth McLean, “Culture: An epic weekend in TV”, in Guardian, UK, retrieved 14 Sept 2017:Carla left him weeping in the rain, soaked to the skin, in his trademark tight white shirt. He may yet catch his death.
Derived terms
Translations