" In other words, I'd say: "I need to remove that tick that's been biting me all day long." I would not say: "I need to be free from that tick." And that's why I'd personally use "rid of" with a cold, as opposed to "free" (it doesn't matter regardless https://energyefficiencygrants.blogspot.com/2025/07/boiler-upgrade-scheme-cavity-wall.html