cough drop: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, Everyday
Quick answer
What does “cough drop” mean?
A small, medicated sweet or lozenge designed to be sucked to soothe a sore throat and suppress coughing.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small, medicated sweet or lozenge designed to be sucked to soothe a sore throat and suppress coughing.
Any small, hard sweet or lozenge, often medicated, used for temporary relief from throat irritation and cough symptoms.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is common in American English. In British English, 'cough sweet' or 'throat sweet' is frequently used as a generic alternative, though brand names like 'Strepsils' are often used generically.
Connotations
In AmE, it strongly connotes a medicated remedy. In BrE, the equivalent terms may slightly more often include non-medicated sweets for the purpose.
Frequency
More frequent in American English. In British English, specific brand names may be more common in everyday speech than the generic term.
Grammar
How to Use “cough drop” in a Sentence
[Subject] + take/suck/have + a cough drop[Number] + cough drop(s)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cough drop” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- No standard verbal use.
American English
- No standard verbal use.
adverb
British English
- No standard adverbial use.
American English
- No standard adverbial use.
adjective
British English
- No standard adjectival use.
American English
- No standard adjectival use.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in pharmaceutical retail or marketing contexts.
Academic
Rare, except in pharmacology or public health discussions on OTC remedies.
Everyday
Common, especially during cold and flu season.
Technical
Used in pharmacology and medicine to describe a specific dosage form (troche/lozenge).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cough drop”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cough drop”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cough drop”
- Using it as a mass noun (e.g., 'some cough drop' instead of 'a cough drop' or 'some cough drops'). Confusing it with 'cough syrup'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A cough drop is a solid lozenge you suck on. Cough syrup is a liquid medication you swallow.
No, they are palliative. They soothe throat irritation and suppress the urge to cough temporarily but do not treat the infection or cause.
Most are, containing ingredients like menthol, benzocaine, or dextromethorphan. However, some simple herbal or honey-based sweets are marketed for the same purpose.
You should follow the dosage instructions on the specific product's packaging, as overuse of medicated drops can have side effects.
A small, medicated sweet or lozenge designed to be sucked to soothe a sore throat and suppress coughing.
Cough drop is usually informal, everyday in register.
Cough drop: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒf drɒp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːf drɑːp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A drop in the bucket (phonetic pun, not a real idiom for the term)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a person COUGHing, and a DROP of medicine falling onto their tongue to form a sweet. Cough + Drop = sweet drop for a cough.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEDICINE IS A SWEET / RELIEF IS A SMALL OBJECT.
Practice
Quiz
Which term is a common British English alternative to 'cough drop'?