" Basically, I might say: "I want to get rid of that tick which is been biting me all day long." I would not say: "I need to be free from that tick." And that is why I might use "rid of" with a cold, instead of "free" (it doesn't https://governmentecogrants.blogspot.com/2024/08/what-are-steps-to-apply-for-free.html