cough

To suddenly push air out of your mouth with a rough sound because your throat feels uncomfortable.

• The smoke made me cough.
• He coughed all night because of his cold.
• Please cover your mouth when you cough.

Common phrases: cough loudly, cough all night, cough and sneeze, cough badly

To force something out of your throat or lungs by suddenly pushing air out of your mouth.

• She began to cough up mucus.
• He coughed the piece of food out.
• Tell a doctor if you cough up blood.

How to use it: cough up something (He coughed up some mucus.); cough something out (She managed to cough the crumb out.)

Similar words: bring up

Common phrases: cough up blood, cough up mucus, cough something out

A problem that makes you repeatedly push air out of your throat with a rough sound.

• I have a bad cough.
• Her cough kept her awake all night.
• The doctor asked how long the cough had lasted.

Similar words: tussis

Common phrases: have a cough, persistent cough, cough medicine, whooping cough

A sudden push of air out of the mouth that makes a rough sound.

• I heard a loud cough.
• She gave a little cough before speaking.
• His coughs interrupted the quiet meeting.

Common phrases: dry cough, loud cough, give a cough, a sharp cough

A written throat sound used to draw attention to a comment, often suggesting blame or a hidden meaning.

• Cough, cough! Someone forgot my birthday.
• He was, cough, too busy to help.
• The window broke itself, cough, apparently.

Similar words: ahem

Common phrases: cough cough, cough someone forgot