" To put it differently, I'd say: "I need to get rid of that tick that's been biting me all day long." I wouldn't say: "I must be free from that tick." And that is why I'd use "rid of" with a cold, as an alternative to "free" (irrespective of https://governmentgreengrant.business.blog/2024/09/13/what-you-must-know-before-applying-for-eco-grants/