sneeze

if (something) sneezes, (something else) catches a cold

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 sneezes, Europe catches a cold. Terrorism in France affects security throughout the continent.
See also: catch, cold, if

not to be sneezed at

To not be something that should be ignored, passed over, dismissed, or treated with disdain; to not be trivial or inconsequential. We may not have won the game, but we scored enough points and caused enough damage to let everyone know we aren't to be sneezed at. Sure, a hundred bucks isn't a huge amount to win in a lottery, but it's still not to be sneezed at!
See also: not, sneeze

not to be sniffed at

To not be something that should be ignored, passed over, dismissed, or treated with disdain; to not be trivial or inconsequential. We may not have won the game, but we scored enough points and caused enough damage to let everyone know we aren't to be sniffed at. Sure, a hundred bucks isn't a huge amount to win in a lottery, but it's still not to be sniffed at!
See also: not, sniff

nothing to be sneezed at

Not something that should be ignored, dismissed, or treated with disdain; something that is not inconsequential. The amount of votes she managed to muster is nothing to be sneezed at. Sure, a hundred bucks isn't a huge amount to have won, but it's definitely nothing to be sneezed at!
See also: nothing, sneeze

nothing to sneeze at

Not something that should be ignored, dismissed, or treated with disdain; something that is not inconsequential. She never really had a chance of winning, but the amount of votes she managed to muster is truly nothing to sneeze at. Sure, a hundred bucks isn't a huge amount to have won, but it's definitely nothing to sneeze at!
See also: nothing, sneeze

sneeze at (someone or something).

To dismiss or belittle someone or something as being not worthwhile, important, or valuable. Sure, a hundred bucks isn't a huge amount to win, but it's definitely nothing to sneeze at! The CEO just sneezed at the deal presented by the rival corporation.
See also: sneeze

sneeze into (something)

To cover one's mouth with something as one sneezes. Please sneeze into your elbow or a handkerchief instead of your hands
See also: sneeze

sneeze on (someone or something)

To spray someone or something with one's sneeze. As a parent of toddlers, you get used to your kids sneezing on you accidentally. Don't sneeze on your hands like that—you're just going to spread germs everywhere!
See also: on, sneeze

when (something) sneezes, (something else) catches a cold

When 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. When Paris sneezes, Europe catches a cold. Terrorism in France affects security throughout the continent.
See also: catch, cold
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

nothing to sneeze at

 and nothing to be sneezed
See also: nothing, sneeze

sneeze at someone

to sneeze in someone's direction. Please don't sneeze at me! Cover your nose and mouth! You should never sneeze at anyone. It is very bad manners.
See also: sneeze

sneeze at something

Fig. to indicate one's disapproval of something; to belittle someone or something. I wouldn't sneeze at that amount of money if I were you. It's better than nothing. I though it was a good offer, but the customer just sneezed at it.
See also: sneeze

sneeze into something

to aim a sneeze into something. You should always sneeze into a handkerchief. Please sneeze into a tissue or something.
See also: sneeze

sneeze on someone or something

to aim a sneeze onto someone or something, probably by accident. Don't sneeze on me! Don't sneeze on anything. Cover your nose and mouth!
See also: on, sneeze
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

not to be sneezed at

Also, nothing to sneeze at. Not to be ignored or dismissed, as in It's a great honor, not to be sneezed at, or That salary of his is nothing to sneeze at. This expression presumably alludes to turning up one's nose in disdain. [c. 1800]
See also: not, sneeze
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

when the US/UK/China, etc. sneezes, Japan/Germany, etc. catches cold

or

when the US/UK/China, etc. sneezes, Japan/Germany, etc. catches a cold

mainly BRITISH
If you say that when a particular country sneezes, another catches cold, or catches a cold, you mean that what happens to the first country has a great effect or influence on the second. And when the American economy sneezes, the City of London catches cold. As they say, when America sneezes the rest of the world catches a cold.
See also: catch, cold, japan, UK

not to be sneezed at

or

not to be sniffed at

INFORMAL
If something is not to be sneezed at or not to be sniffed at, it is worth having. The money's not to be sneezed at. At least she had somewhere to live and a job — both temporary, but not to be sniffed at.
See also: not, sneeze
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

not to be sneezed at

not to be rejected without careful consideration; worth having or taking into account. informal
See also: not, sneeze
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

not to be ˈsneezed/ˈsniffed at

(informal) important or worth having: If I were you, I’d take the job. A salary like that’s not to be sneezed at.
See also: not, sneeze, sniff

when A ˈsneezes, B catches a ˈcold

(also if A catches a ˈcold, B gets pneuˈmonia less frequent) if one person, organization, country, etc. has a problem, the effects of this on another person, organization or country are much more serious: When Wall Street sneezes, the world catches a cold.
See also: catch, cold
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

sneeze at

v.
To treat something as unimportant. Used chiefly in the passive with a negative word: The critical nature of the job at hand is not to be sneezed at.
See also: sneeze
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.

nothing to sneeze at

n. no small amount of money; something not inconsequential. It’s not a lot of money, but it’s nothing to sneeze at.
See also: nothing, sneeze
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

not to be sneezed at

Not to be dismissed. This term, which presumably comes from turning up one’s nose at something to express contempt, was already current in the early nineteenth century. “As I am situated, £300 or £400 a year is not to be sneezed at” (Sir Walter Scott, letter, 1813).
See also: not, sneeze
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • if (something) catches a cold, (something else) gets pneumonia
  • if (something) sneezes, (something else) catches a cold
  • japan
  • pneumonia
  • 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
References in periodicals archive
"How can you internally sneeze. As long as people put their hand up to cover their nose it's fine," said another.
Mum posts baffling rant slamming people for not 'sneezing internally'; People were perplexed by her claim that it's possible to hold sneezes in
It's reported the man arrived in A&E with a change to his voice, a swollen neck, pain when swallowing and a popping sensation in his neck after he pinched his nose to contain a sneeze.
the best way to sneeze? DO YOU KNOW
But the new study finds coughs and sneezes may not be necessary to saturate the air with flu virus.
Flu May Be Spread By Just Breathing
"When you sneeze, air comes out of you at about 150 miles per hour," said Dr.
Warning: Stifling sneezes can be health hazard in rare cases
Shahz Ahmed, an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) consultant and skull base surgeon at University Hospital Birmingham who was not involved in the case, commented that there is hardly any evidence saying one should not hold a sneeze since complications arising from doing so are very rare.
Stifling a sneeze can be dangerous
"The safest thing to do -- although it's not socially acceptable -- is just to sneeze loud," Aymat said.
Warning: Stifling sneezes can be health hazard in rare cases
'The patient described a popping sensation in his neck after he tried to halt a sneeze by pinching the nose and holding his mouth closed,' doctors detailed in a study published in the medical journal BMJ Case Reports.
Suppressing a sneeze can be dangerous, doctors warn
Massaging the throat and getting your dog to swallow can also break a reverse sneeze cycle.
Reverse Sneezing
Q: My 15-year-old male cat, Felix, sneezes every day.
Your pets
Recently, researchers who were observing the behavior of five separate packs of African wild dogs in Botswana, reported that wild dogs make a noise similar to a sneeze to vote!
Achooo... Time For A Hunt!
"The virus is spread by coughs, sneezes or by touching a surface that someone has sneezed or coughed on, so practising good hand hygiene - for example washing hands thoroughly and covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze - is important to stop the spread of the virus."
Rare virus warning for children
IF you remember a band called Sneeze then either your student years are far behind you or you were at Dunston Social Club two years ago when the place rocked and memories flooded back.
Rockers' reunion show is nothing to Sneeze at; A band called Sneeze will be whipping up the feelgood factor this weekend, as DAVID WHETSTONE reports
The company has introduced the Sneeve, a soft, stretchy and absorbent sleeve that children can wear over their shirts, sweaters, sweatshirts or pajamas to absorb phlegm and mucus when (hey sneeze or cough into their arm.
Sleeve enables safer sneezing
The bright blue Sneeve fits comfortably on most kids ages three to eight, and reminds them to cough and sneeze into their arms.
A nonwoven sleeve that catches sneezes
I realised a sneeze was coming, and so I began my usual routine when I am aware that a sneeze is coming, a frantic search upon my person for some sort of tissue or handkerchief, but done in such a way that the rest of my body is fooled into thinking I do not know a sneeze is coming.
It's cold comfort arm