cough up

To force blood, liquid, or another substance out of your throat or lungs by coughing.

• He coughed up some blood.
• She keeps coughing up thick mucus.
• Did you cough up anything this morning?

How to use it: cough up something (The patient coughed up some mucus.)

Similar words: expectorate

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

To pay money, especially when you do not want to.

• You will have to cough up the money.
• I coughed up twenty dollars for the ticket.
• Why should we cough up for their mistake?

How to use it: cough up something for something (We had to cough up fifty pounds for the repair.)

Similar words: pay up, shell out

Common phrases: cough up money, cough up cash, cough something up

To give someone an object, often after they ask or demand it.

• Cough up my keys, please.
• She finally coughed up the documents we needed.
• Will he cough up the stolen phone?

How to use it: cough up something (He finally coughed up the missing keys.)

Similar words: hand over, give up

Opposites: keep

Common phrases: cough up keys, cough up something, cough something up

To tell someone information you were keeping secret, often unwillingly.

• He finally coughed up the truth.
• The witness coughed up a few useful details.
• Can you get her to cough up the names?

How to use it: cough up something (The suspect eventually coughed up the names of his partners.)

Similar words: reveal, disclose, confess

Opposites: conceal

Common phrases: cough up details, cough up information, cough up names

To lose a game you could have won because you make mistakes, especially near the end.

• We had the game won but coughed it up.
• The team coughed up another match after leading at halftime.
• How did they cough it up with such a big lead?

How to use it: cough something up (They were ahead, but they coughed the game up in the final minute.)

Similar words: throw away, blow

Common phrases: cough it up, cough up games

To accidentally drop something, especially a ball during a game.

• He coughed up the ball.
• Our striker coughed it up near the goal.
• The defender forced her to cough up possession.

How to use it: cough up something (The runner coughed up the ball during a tackle.)

Similar words: fumble, drop, spill

Common phrases: cough up possession, cough something up