You can catch me but you can't throw me. What am I?

This clever wordplay zeroes in on the versatile nature of our language, specifically the multiple meanings a single word can hold. The key to unraveling this riddle lies in understanding the verb "catch." When someone says you can "catch me," it's not referring to physically seizing an object that has been thrown. Instead, it plays on the common idiom "to catch a cold," meaning to contract an illness or become infected with a virus.

The second part of the riddle, "but you can't throw me," reinforces this distinction. While you can certainly throw a ball or a frisbee, the act of "throwing a cold" has no literal meaning in English. Colds are illnesses you acquire, often through exposure to viruses from others, not something you can physically propel away from yourself or at someone else. This contrast between the two meanings of "catch" and the impossibility of "throwing" highlights the answer.

Riddles like this showcase the fascinating flexibility of the English language, where context is everything. They challenge us to think beyond the most obvious interpretations of words and consider their idiomatic uses. It's a delightful reminder of how much fun can be had by playing with semantics and the everyday phrases we often take for granted.