if (something) catches a cold, (something else) gets pneumonia

if (something) catches a cold, (something else) gets pneumonia

If a person, group, or entity has a problem or experiences a negative situation, a related person, group, or entity will consequently have a worse problem or will experience a more negative situation. If Paris catches a cold, Europe gets pneumonia. Terrorism in France affects security throughout the continent.
See also: catch, get, if, pneumonia
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • if (something) sneezes, (something else) catches a cold
  • japan
  • pneumonia
  • sneeze
  • UK
  • when (something) catches a cold, (something else) gets pneumonia
  • when (something) sneezes, (something else) catches a cold
  • when A sneezes, B catches a cold
  • when the US/UK/China, etc. sneezes, Japan/Germany, etc. catches cold
  • an insult to one is an insult to all