What Does โCough sth upโ Mean?
โCough sth upโ means to bring something out from your throat or lungs by coughing. It can also mean to give or pay something, often reluctantly.
Introduction
The phrasal verb โcough sth upโ has two main meanings. First, it refers to physically expelling mucus or an object from your throat or lungs by coughing. Second, in informal English, it means to pay money or give something, often unwillingly. Understanding the โcough sth up meaningโ helps learners use it correctly in different contexts. This phrase is common in both medical and everyday conversations and can add variety to your English speaking and writing.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: cough something up
- Type: transitive
- Level: B1 (Intermediate)
- Short meaning: To expel mucus by coughing or to give/pay something reluctantly
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โCough sth upโ is a separable phrasal verb. This means the object (something) can come between โcoughโ and โup,โ or after โup.โ
- cough something up
- cough up something
Example: She coughed the phlegm up. / She coughed up the phlegm.
How to Use โCough sth upโ?
You can use โcough sth upโ when talking about clearing your throat or lungs, especially when sick. For example, โHe coughed up some mucus.โ
In informal speech, it also means to pay money or give something, usually when you donโt want to. For example, โYou have to cough up $50 for the ticket.โ
The phrase works well in both literal and figurative contexts.
Examples
- After being sick all night, she finally coughed up some mucus.
- The old man had to cough up a large sum of money for his car repairs.
- He didnโt want to cough up the cash, but he had no choice.
- Doctors told him to cough up the phlegm to clear his lungs.
- Can you cough up the rent by Friday?
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: She coughed up.
- Correct: She coughed something up. (You need an object)
- Incorrect: I cough up the money yesterday.
- Correct: I coughed up the money yesterday.
Differences / Synonyms
Cough sth up vs. Spit sth out:
โSpit sth outโ means to force something out of your mouth quickly, often food or liquid. โCough sth upโ usually refers to mucus or something stuck in the throat or lungs.
Cough sth up vs. Hand sth over:
โHand sth overโ means to give something willingly, while โcough sth upโ suggests reluctance or difficulty.
Common Collocations
- cough up mucus
- cough up phlegm
- cough up blood
- cough up money
- cough up cash
- cough up a fee
Real-life Dialogue
Anna: I donโt want to pay the fine, but I guess I have to cough it up.
Ben: Yeah, sometimes you just have to cough up the money.
Anna: By the way, Iโve been coughing a lot lately and finally coughed up some nasty stuff.
Ben: You should see a doctor if that continues.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
- A) He coughed up the phlegm this morning.
- B) He coughed the morning up phlegm.
- C) He coughed up this morning the phlegm.
Answer: A
Fill in the blank:
She didnโt want to _________ the money, but it was necessary.
FAQs
- Q: Can โcough sth upโ be used in formal writing?
A: It is mostly informal, especially when meaning to pay money.
- Q: Is โcough sth upโ always about money?
A: No, it can also mean to expel mucus or something stuck in the throat.
- Q: Can I say โcough upโ without an object?
A: Usually, you need an object to complete the meaning.
- Q: What level is โcough sth upโ for English learners?
A: It is generally B1 (intermediate) level.
- Q: What are common objects with โcough upโ?
A: Money, mucus, phlegm, blood, fees, cash.
