crève

bad cold, nasty illness

noun KREV Rare

Usage Note

Crève is a colloquial feminine noun meaning a severe cold or illness (attraper la crève — 'to catch a bad cold'). It derives from crever ('to burst, to die'). The expression avoir la crève is very common in everyday informal speech; the register is decidedly familiar.

Examples

"Il a attrapé la crève en sortant sans manteau."

Natural Translation

He caught a bad cold going out without a coat.

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