cough up

Meaning

1. To expel from the lungs, throat, stomach, etc. by coughing.
2. To reluctantly or unwillingly give.
3. Of money: to pay or disburse reluctantly.
4. Of other objects: to hand over, give.
5. To confess; to give up information.
6. To lose a competition by one's own mistakes, usually near the end of the contest.
7. To spill, to fumble.

Etymology / origin

From Middle English coughen up, equivalent to cough + up. Sense 2.1 was perhaps influenced by coffers of money.

Related words

Sources

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