Cold Remedy

scratchy

My throat is really scratchy.

To have a 'scratchy' throat is to feel like your throat is very dry.  Sometimes you will also have a dry cough.  If your throat is scratchy, it doesn't exactly hurt, but it is not comfortable.  Notice the following:

1. They almost canceled the concert because the singer had a scratchy throat.
   
2. My throat is always very scratchy after football games because I yell a lot.
   

come down with

I'm coming down with something.

If you are 'coming down with something' you feel as though you are getting sick.  All of the signals that you feel before you actually get sick.  Notice the following:

1. He didn't go to school today because he felt like he was coming down with something.
   
2. You look terrible.  Are you coming down with something?
   

sensitive

I'm caffeine sensitive.

If you are 'sensitive' to caffeine then you are easily affected by it.  Maybe you have a little cup of coffee and your hands shake.  You are sensitive to anything that affects you.  Notice the following:

1. My knee was very sensitive after surgery.
   
2. She can't handle criticism because she is very sensitive.
   

keep me up

Taking the formula at night kept me up.

If something 'keeps you up' all night it prevents you from sleeping.  This could be noise, something you are thinking about, caffeine, anything that doesn't allow you to sleep.  Notice the following:

1. The new baby keeps them up at night and they are always very tired.
   
2. There was a dog barking outside my window and it kept me up all night.
   

stick with

I'm going to stick with the regular cold syrup.

If you 'stick with' regular cold syrup then you continue using it, even if someone offers you a different remedy.  Notice the following:

1. Are you going to stick with the same doctor?
   
2. Even though I really enjoyed the kickboxing class I am going to stick with my regular routine.