Hi Liz,
Good point... 'attraper froid' means to catch a chill which is similar to catching a cold both in English and French .
You can say say -
'attraper un rhume' but in that story attraper/prendre froid suits better.
Of course, we all know a cold is a virus now and has nothing to do with the cold but these expressions remain...
Well, there is still a connection between it being cold outside and one being more likely to come down with a cold. So the phrase isn't entirely without ascientific basis. :)
It has to do with more people spending more time in close quarters when it's cold outside. And also with the fact that your nasal mucuous membranes are not as effective in their defense of pathogenes when they are very chilly.
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