you'll catch your death

you'll catch your death

You'll get sick if you do what you're about to do (often, go outside without being properly dressed). A shortened version of "you'll catch your death of cold." You can't go out without a coat at this time of year, you'll catch your death!
See also: catch, death

you'll catch your death (of cold)

A warning issued (often hyperbolically) to one deemed vulnerable to becoming ill with the common cold. You'll catch your death of cold if you leave the house with wet hair—it's freezing outside! You'll catch your death in this weather if you don't put on a coat!
See also: catch, death
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • you'll catch your death (of cold)
  • go all out
  • go all out for something
  • bark at the moon
  • bay at the moon
  • howl
  • you'll never guess
  • from Missouri, I'm
  • cut coat according to cloth
  • cut your coat according to your cloth
References in classic literature
"You'll get drenched to the skin; you'll catch your death!" said Peechy Prauw affectionately.
Adventure of the Black Fisherman
On Broad Street, while redblooded males ogled the seminaked bodies before them, I tutted: "You'll catch your death, my girl" and "for goodness sake, do up those buttons."
THE SNOWFLAKE GENERATION!
Come on, it's winter ladies, you'll catch your death!
what'shot THEY'VE NAILED IT [...]
"Put your cardi back on, you'll catch your death from exploitation," boom those who hate it.
STORM IN A D-CUP; Hannah tackles the Page 3 issue from her vantage point on the fence
"Dad tells me 'You'll catch your death, Cath!' she laughs.
Corrie stars ask me what they should eat ... I'm the resident nutritionist! Coronation Street star Catherine Tyldesley tells EMILY RETTER how she worked to slim down from a size 22 to a svelte size 10 fame Fit for
Phrases such as: 'are you really going out like that?' and 'wear a coat, you'll catch your death' slip effortlessly from your lips.
The Mother's Day gift that keeps on giving
You'll catch your death. I'll fix us some lunch.' 'But it's dark out,' she objected.
MORNING SERIAL
But while it was a balmy 23C in Miami yesterday, in London on Thursday night it was only 2C, so word of advice, Justin - your buff new look is impressive but put a shirt on or you'll catch your death.
Don't turn out like Iggy..stay off drugs; WARNING TO THE BIEBER
One friend reflected that she and my father had "lived great lives", another more simply that "the world is less of a place", while a third recounted that when she visited my mother in the last fragile weeks of her life, Rene drifted out of sleep, opened her eyes and muttered: "You should be wearing a jumper, you'll catch your death of cold."
Rene Chaplin 1920-2012; Obituaries
"You'll catch your death of a cold" was a literal statement a generation before it became a comical clich.
Thankfully, we've evolved beyond spanking
It just shows what your mum used to say about 'cover up or you'll catch your death of cold' is a load of rubbish!" The T-shirt and shorts helped to raise Parry's national profile long before he moved into management.
Footballs hardest man becomes Mr Millenium
It maybe summer, but this is Yorkshire -and you'll catch your death of cold wandering about in that flimsy nightie.
SOAPS: Saucy Jo's low blow; EMMERDALE
John worked until late into the nights to finish his design - You'll Catch Your Death Out There.
It was such a buzz to see my costume paraded; AWARD-WINNER: Creative dad wins design contest
Polly Hopkins: You'll catch your death going out like that!
Letters: Red-hot dates
My dad says 'You'll catch your death' but it's all part of Eva's character...
I wouldn't ever dare wear Eva's skimpy outfits! CORRIE'S CATHERINE TYLDESLEY:The soap star reveals she picks her character's low-cut tops... and how she worked to get her size 10 body. By Emily Retter