How Do You Spell COUGH UP?

Pronunciation: [kˈɒf ˈʌp] (IPA)

The phrase "cough up" might seem like an odd spelling choice for the act of expelling something from your lungs, but it actually makes sense phonetically. The "c" and "gh" in "cough" represent the /k/ and /f/ sounds, respectively, while the "up" ending is pronounced like /ʌp/. So, when you say "cough up," you're actually saying /kʌf ʌp/. It's a bit confusing at first, but once you break it down, the spelling makes perfect sense.

Meaning and Definition
Common Misspellings
Etymology
Idioms
Similar spelling words
Conjugate verb
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COUGH UP Meaning and Definition

  1. Cough up is a phrasal verb that is used in informal English to describe the act of revealing or sharing something unwillingly or reluctantly, usually money or information. The term "cough up" is derived from the action of coughing, which is often spontaneous and uncontrollable, just as the act of giving something reluctantly can often feel involuntary.

    When someone is asked to "cough up" money, it means they are being pressured or requested to pay a sum of money, even though they may not want to or think it is unfair. This can occur in various scenarios, such as when debt or fines are owed, or when someone needs to contribute their share to a collective expense. It implies an element of discomfort or dissatisfaction with the request.

    Similarly, "coughing up" information refers to the act of reluctantly revealing private or sensitive details that one would prefer to keep confidential. This could happen during interrogations or investigations where individuals are pressed to disclose information they may want to withhold.

    Overall, "cough up" indicates an informal sense of being forced or compelled to give something in an uncomfortable or unwilling manner. It is often used figuratively to convey a sense of reluctance or resistance in parting with money or disclosing information.

Common Misspellings for COUGH UP

  • xough up
  • vough up
  • fough up
  • dough up
  • ciugh up
  • ckugh up
  • clugh up
  • cpugh up
  • c0ugh up
  • c9ugh up
  • coygh up
  • cohgh up
  • cojgh up
  • coigh up
  • co8gh up
  • co7gh up
  • coufh up
  • couvh up
  • coubh up

Etymology of COUGH UP

The term "cough up" is an idiomatic expression that originated in the English language. It combines the verb "cough", which derives from the Middle English word "coughen", meaning "to expel air audibly from the lungs", and the preposition "up", indicating direction or movement. When used figuratively, "cough up" means to reluctantly give or surrender something, often referring to money or information. The phrase likely emerged from the idea that someone is expelling or surrendering something, similar to how coughing involves forcefully expelling air. The exact origins of this idiom are unclear, but it is generally believed to have developed during the 19th or early 20th century.

Idioms with the word COUGH UP

  • cough up sth The idiom "cough up sth" means to reluctantly provide or give something, usually money or information, that is demanded or expected by someone else. It implies that the act of providing or giving is done with a sense of discomfort or annoyance.
  • cough up The idiom "cough up" means to reluctantly give or provide something, typically money or information.

Similar spelling words for COUGH UP

Conjugate verb Cough up

CONDITIONAL

I would cough up
you would cough up
he/she/it would cough up
we would cough up
they would cough up

CONDITIONAL CONTINUOUS

I would be coughing up
you would be coughing up
he/she/it would be coughing up
we would be coughing up
they would be coughing up

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have cough up
you would have cough up
he/she/it would have cough up
we would have cough up
they would have cough up

CONDITIONAL PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I would have been coughing up
you would have been coughing up
he/she/it would have been coughing up
we would have been coughing up
they would have been coughing up

FUTURE

I will cough up
you will cough up
he/she/it will cough up
we will cough up
they will cough up

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be coughing up
you will be coughing up
he/she/it will be coughing up
we will be coughing up
they will be coughing up

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have coughed up
you will have coughed up
he/she/it will have coughed up
we will have coughed up
they will have coughed up

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been coughing up
you will have been coughing up
he/she/it will have been coughing up
we will have been coughing up
they will have been coughing up

IMPERATIVE

you cough up
we let´s cough up

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to cough up

PAST

I coughed up
you coughed up
he/she/it coughed up
we coughed up
they coughed up

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was coughing up
you were coughing up
he/she/it was coughing up
we were coughing up
they were coughing up

PAST PARTICIPLE

coughed up

PAST PERFECT

I had coughed up
you had coughed up
he/she/it had coughed up
we had coughed up
they had coughed up

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been coughing up
you had been coughing up
he/she/it had been coughing up
we had been coughing up
they had been coughing up

PRESENT

I cough up
you cough up
he/she/it coughs up
we cough up
they cough up

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am coughing up
you are coughing up
he/she/it is coughing up
we are coughing up
they are coughing up

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

coughing up

PRESENT PERFECT

I have coughed up
you have coughed up
he/she/it has coughed up
we have coughed up
they have coughed up

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been coughing up
you have been coughing up
he/she/it has been coughing up
we have been coughing up
they have been coughing up

Infographic

Correct spelling for cough up
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