come down with: meaning and explanation
We use the phrasal verb to come down with something to mean to become ill/unwell.
We only really use this phrasal verb for small/non-serious illnesses, e.g. a cold or the flu. Don't use it to talk about something serious.
Instead of specifying the illness (e.g a cold), it is common to just say something - this is because we don't feel very well, but we don't know what is causing it. e.g. I feel like I might be coming down with something - I hope it isn't that cough that Jessica had last week.
Have a go at these micro-dictation exercises to hear this expression being used in context – how much can you understand?
Listening exercises
Dictation #1
Accent: North America
About the sentence
...I was going to visit Paris...
This is an example of the future in the past.
We use to be going to + verb to talk about a future plan. When we use this structure in the past (e.g. I was going to + verb), it is usually to talk about a plan that we had to change.
e.g We were going to go out for a walk this weekend, but the weather was awful = we had to change our original plan.
Dictation #2
Accent: England (RP)
Only members can access this listening exercise – join MicroEnglish to access all exercises.
Already a member? Login here
Dictation #3
Accent: Northern England
Only members can access this listening exercise – join MicroEnglish to access all exercises.
Already a member? Login here
Comments