Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

cough up

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.95 in modern English

Syllables
cough up
IPA
15
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
1
Syllables
6
Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To expel from the lungs, throat, stomach, etc. by coughing.

Transitive verb

verb

To reluctantly or unwillingly give.

Informal; Transitive verb

verb

To reluctantly or unwillingly give.

Informal; Transitive verb

verb

To reluctantly or unwillingly give.

Informal; Intransitive verb; Slang; Transitive verb

verb

To lose a competition by one's own mistakes, usually near the end of the contest.

verb

To spill, to fumble.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English coughen up, equivalent to cough + up. Sense 2.1 was perhaps influenced by coffers of money. (to lose by one's own mistakes): Compare typologically Russian проду́ть (prodútʹ), профу́кать (profúkatʹ).

Origin

Word Breakdown

Usage

Inflected Forms

coughs up (present, singular) coughing up (participle, present) coughed up (participle, past) coughed up (past)

Frequently Paired Words

expectorate come up with come down with put down

Synonyms

shell out fork out fork over expectorate cough out spit up spit out pony up

Questions

What does cough up mean?
To expel from the lungs, throat, stomach, etc. by coughing.
Where does cough up come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce cough up

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “cough up”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “cough up”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “cough up” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.