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cough over

C1 neutral inseparable transitive
In simple words

To cough so that air or germs go over someone or something.

Literal meaning: To cough in a direction that covers or passes over someone — fully transparent.

Meanings

1 C1 neutral

To cough while facing or leaning toward someone or something, potentially spreading germs or saliva over them.

"Please cover your mouth — don't cough over the food."

Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes

Not a standard dictionary entry as a fixed phrasal verb. Used in a literal, descriptive sense. Rare in fixed idiomatic use.

Commonly used with

food someone table everything neighbour

Forms

Base
cough over
I/you/we/they
3rd person
coughs over
he/she/it
Past simple
coughed over
yesterday
Past participle
coughed over
have + pp
-ing form
coughing over
continuous

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