catch cold

[catch cold] {v. phr.}

1. or [take cold] To get a common cold-weather sickness that causes a running nose, sneezing, and sometimes sore throat and fever or other symptoms.

/Don't get your feet wet or you'll catch cold./

2. {informal} To catch unprepared or not ready for a question or unexpected happening.

/I had not studied my lesson carefully, and the teacher's question caught me cold./

/The opposing team was big and sure of winning, and they were caught cold by the fast, hard playing of our smaller players./

Source: A Dictionary of American Idioms

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