1 B1 idiomatic informal
To produce money, especially an amount you are reluctant to pay.
"The landlord demanded they cough up the three months of unpaid rent immediately."
separable
cough up
B1 informal separable transitive
To produce money or information reluctantly, or to expel something from the throat by coughing.
In plain English
To give money or information you don't want to give, or to push something up from your throat by coughing.
What does "cough up" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic informal
To reveal information you have been keeping back, often under pressure.
"After an hour of questioning, the suspect finally coughed up the name of his accomplice."
separable
3 B1 neutral
To expel mucus, blood, or another substance from the throat or lungs by coughing.
"The doctor was concerned when the patient began coughing up blood."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To use a cough to bring something up from below — the physical sense is transparent; the financial/informational sense is idiomatic.
Actually means
To give money or information you don't want to give, or to push something up from your throat by coughing.
Usage tip
Very common in British English for paying reluctantly. Also used medically. The informal sense (money/information) is frequently used with a tone of annoyance or impatience.
Words that pair with "cough up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
money cash blood information details phlegm
How to conjugate "cough up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
cough up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
coughs up
he/she/it
Past simple
coughed up
yesterday
Past participle
coughed up
have + pp
-ing form
coughing up
continuous
Hear "cough up" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "cough up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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