to come down with (something)

Welcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 584: Calling in Sick to Work.

This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 584. I’m your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in beautiful Los Angeles, California.

Go to our website at eslpod.com to download a Learning Guide for this episode, it will help you improve your English even faster.

This episode is called “Calling in Sick to Work.” It’s a dialogue between Peter and Magda about what happens when someone decides they are too sick to go to work. Let’s get started.

I was fed up with work and wanted the day off. I decided to call in sick. I wasn’t prepared, though, to be peppered with questions.

Peter: Hello, this is Peter. Is this Magda?

Magda: Yes. This is Magda.

Peter: Hi, Magda. I won’t be coming in today. I’m not feeling well. I think I’ve come down with something.

Magda: Hmm, what seems to be the problem?

Peter: The problem? Oh…I’ve been up all night throwing up and I feel terrible.

Magda: Didn’t you have something like this two weeks ago