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Hello Elle!

Quite well, thank you!
I find it much easier to move around now - not quite over yet,
as I found out when walking down to the village on Thursday - it
did take me rather a long time!
Muscles are particularly achy/tired in the evening, but there is
no comparison with what it was at first!

Recovery may have been quicker with a good few years less....!!!

PS - I read earlier that your toe is on the mend too - that's good!

Thank you, Malone.
It did not occur to me to consult Chambers...although I am not happy with the change in phraseology......

Elle, I knew that 'catch a cold' could mean financial problems, but it was only when I checked the definition that I found the specific term... and I agree, the specific term isn't what's in the clue!

Hi Rusty!
Uhm....I am not happy with that supposedly double definition in that QC clue I asked you about in my earlier post ......
What do you think?
Did you read the clue......or did you miss it in all the sudden "traffic" on here?
According to Chambers, "catch cold (at)" means "having financial difficulties," but that change in phraseology is not the same as "catch A cold" for the other "minor illness" definition?
Or at least, it isn't to me?
Shouldn't the answer just have been "catch cold" for both definitions?
Or am I being pernickety?



Hello, Pigale!
Good to know you are feeling better and becoming more mobile - if but gradually!
It has certainly been a long hard road for you!

Hello, Elle!
Yes, I have just returned to the forum since earlier.
I only look in now and again.
(I don't live on the forum!)
It is not a phrase I would use, but "catch A cold" seems better to me.
"Catch cold" suggests to me "unprepared".
And I do not understand Chambers "catch cold (at)".
"At" what? Why is "at" bracketed?
is the answer "catches a cold"?
That looks fine to me for both definitions.
What does Brewer's think?

Hi, Rusty!
Perhaps I am just being too fussy......
"Catch a cold" is the answer to the clue and what fits the grid, but Chambers leaves out the "a", and simply gives "catches cold (at)" for financial problems.
The expression is not in Brewers.
I shall just put it down to being unsatisfactory...... in my eyes!
We have a beautiful evening here now...and it is warmer than it has been all day!
Back to my book.......

Hi elle
I'm fairly sure that the expression for suffering a financial loss is "catch a cold". The other alternatives aren't used in this context, as I've heard. I'm becoming more dubious about Chambers's "authority" - too often it seems to perpetuate incorrect usage (I could give examples!)

Hi, Chris!
I've checked in my own Oxford Dictionary, but the expression "catch (a) cold" is not there.
Nor is it in Brewers.
The online Collin's Dictionary gives it as a SLANG expression meaning to make a loss; lose one's investment
I have probably been making a fuss about nothing ...but I just wasn't happy with the clue!

I'm surprised, elle - it's fairly common usage.

Don't get me started on "epicentre"!