catch one's death (of a cold), to

catch one's death (of cold)

 and take one's death (of cold)
Fig. to contract a cold, a common respiratory infection; to catch a serious cold. If I go out in this weather, I'll catch my death of cold. Dress up warm or you'll take your death.
See also: catch, death
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

catch (one's) death

To catch a cold or other illness.
See also: catch, death
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.

catch one's death (of a cold), to

To become infected with a cold. This hyperbolic phrase, often used as a warning (“Wear your hat or you’ll catch your death”), dates from the late 1800s.
See also: catch, death
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • catch (one's) death (of cold)
  • catching
  • tan
  • catch a tan
  • catch as catch can
  • catch-as-catch-can
  • Catch me later
  • catch you later
  • catch (one) later
  • catch (one) with (one's) pants down