How do you use "Cough Up" in a sentence?

Come on, cough up the money you owe me. I had to cough up £500 for the repair. Time to cough up for your share. The insurance company finally coughed up.

Cough Up

Q: What does "Cough Up" mean?

To reluctantly pay or hand over money To pay money, usually unwillingly. Suggests the payment is forced out of you like coughing something up. Often used for debts or bills.

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★☆ Common Casual

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Meaning: To reluctantly pay or hand over money

不情愿地付钱或交出钱

Pagar o entregar dinero de mala gana

しぶしぶ払う、金を出す

마지못해 돈을 내다, 돈을 내놓다

To pay money, usually unwillingly. Suggests the payment is forced out of you like coughing something up. Often used for debts or bills.

付钱，通常是不情愿地。暗示钱是像咳出来一样被迫付出的。常用于债务或账单。

Pagar dinero, generalmente de mala gana. Sugiere que el pago se expulsa a la fuerza como al toser. A menudo usado para deudas o facturas.

お金を払う、通常はしぶしぶ。咳をするように無理やり出されることを示す。借金や請求書によく使う。

보통 마지못해 돈을 내는 것. 기침하듯 억지로 돈을 뱉어내는 느낌. 빚이나 청구서에 자주 사용.

Literal meaning: To expel by coughing.

Examples

Come on, cough up the money you owe me.
来吧，把你欠我的钱交出来。
Vamos, suelta el dinero que me debes.
さあ、借りてるお金出して。
자, 빌린 돈 내놔.
I had to cough up £500 for the repair.
我不得不掏500英镑修理费。
Tuve que soltar £500 por la reparación.
修理に500ポンド払わされた。
수리비로 500파운드를 내야 했어.
Time to cough up for your share.
该掏你那份钱了。
Es hora de soltar tu parte.
自分の分を払う時だよ。
네 몫 낼 시간이야.
The insurance company finally coughed up.
保险公司终于付钱了。
La compañía de seguros finalmente soltó.
保険会社がやっと払った。
보험 회사가 드디어 돈을 냈어.

Pronunciation

/kɒf ʌp/

Usage Guide

Context: debts, bills, payments

Tone: demanding, reluctant

✓ Do Say

Cough up!
快掏钱！
¡Suelta!
払って！
돈 내!
Time to cough up.
该掏钱了
Es hora de soltar
払う時だよ
돈 낼 때야.
Cough up the money.
把钱交出来
Suelta el dinero
金出して
돈 내놔.

✗ Don't Say

Can sound demanding
可能听起来很强硬
Puede sonar exigente
要求的に聞こえることがある
다그치는 느낌이 들 수 있음
Use with friends, not professionally
和朋友用，不要在职业场合用
Usa con amigos, no profesionalmente
友達と使う、ビジネスでは使わない
친구 사이에서 사용, 공식적 자리에서는 부적절

Common Mistakes

Implies reluctance in payment
Can be playful or serious

Origin & History

From the physical act of coughing something up—the money is forced out reluctantly. Used in English since the 17th century.

Etymology: From physical coughing up—reluctant expulsion

First recorded: English usage from 17th century

Cultural Context

Era: 17th century onwards

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Common in debt/payment contexts; British and American media

Regional notes: Universal across English-speaking countries.

Variations

Cough upCough it upCoughing up