cough
B1Neutral (Used in all registers from informal to formal medical contexts)
Definition
Meaning
A sudden, forceful expulsion of air from the lungs, often involuntary, typically to clear the throat or airways of irritants or mucus.
To produce a cough; to make the sound of coughing; to talk or confess something reluctantly or awkwardly, often in the phrase 'cough up'.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can denote both the physical reflex and the resulting sound. The verb can be transitive when used with the particle 'up' (cough up phlegm/money/information).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Primarily in the idiomatic use 'cough drop' (AmE) vs. 'cough sweet' (BrE). The verb usage is identical.
Connotations
Identical in core meaning. Both use 'cough up' idiomatically for money/information.
Frequency
The noun 'cough' is slightly more common in everyday health talk in British English, but the difference is negligible.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[V] (intransitive): She coughed all night.[V + ADV] (intransitive): He coughed violently into his handkerchief.[V + up + NP] (transitive): The engine coughed up black smoke. He finally coughed up the money he owed.[V + NP] (transitive, rare/archaic): 'Cough blood' is a specific medical phrase.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “cough up (money/information)”
- “cough one's head/lungs up (informal, for a severe cough)”
- “cough and a spit (BrE, informal, describing something trivial)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
'We need the client to cough up the late payment.' (idiomatic, informal)
Academic
A persistent cough is a common symptom observed in respiratory epidemiological studies.
Everyday
I've had this annoying cough for a week. Cover your mouth when you cough!
Technical
The patient presents with a non-productive paroxysmal cough, suggestive of pertussis.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The chilly air made him cough.
- You'll have to cough up a tenner for the taxi.
- The old car coughed and spluttered before starting.
American English
- The smoke caused everyone to cough.
- He finally coughed up the documents we needed.
- The engine just coughed and died.
adverb
British English
- 'Ahem,' he said coughingly, trying to get their attention. (Rare/Formal)
American English
- She laughed coughingly because her throat was so dry. (Rare/Formal)
adjective
British English
- She bought some cough mixture from the chemist.
- He had a nasty cough syrup that tasted terrible.
American English
- She took a cough suppressant before the meeting.
- He used a cough drop to soothe his throat.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I have a bad cough.
- Please don't cough near me.
- She drinks tea for her cough.
- He developed a persistent cough after his cold.
- The child was coughing all through the night.
- This medicine should help suppress your cough.
- A dry, hacking cough can be a sign of several different conditions.
- After much pressure, the witness finally coughed up the name of his contact.
- The lecture was interrupted by a chorus of coughs from the dusty hall.
- The patient's non-productive cough was unresponsive to standard antitussives.
- The corporation was forced to cough up millions in environmental damages.
- His speech was punctuated by a nervous, deliberate cough whenever he changed topic.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the sound: 'cough' rhymes with 'off'. When you cough, the air is forced OFF your lungs.
Conceptual Metaphor
EXPULSION AS CLEARING (cough up information/money: forcing something hidden out into the open, like clearing a blockage).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'кашель' (the noun) only. Remember the verb is also 'to cough' ('кашлять').
- Avoid the false friend 'couch' (диван).
- The 'gh' is silent, pronounced like 'f'.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling: 'cough' not 'coff'.
- Incorrect pronunciation: pronouncing the 'gh' as /g/.
- Using as a transitive verb without 'up': Incorrect: 'He coughed some phlegm.' Correct: 'He coughed up some phlegm.'
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase means 'to reluctantly give money'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a regular verb. Past tense and past participle: coughed.
A dry cough is irritating and produces little or no mucus. A chesty cough (often 'productive' or 'wet') produces phlegm from the lungs.
Yes. Noun: 'She has a cough.' Verb: 'She started to cough.'
English spelling is historical. In some words like 'cough', 'tough', and 'enough', the Old English/Middle English 'gh' sound evolved into an /f/ sound, but the spelling remained.
Collections
Part of a collection
Health and Body
A2 · 48 words · Talking about health, illness and medical care.