chesty

Everyday

1. (UK, Australia, informal) Having a lot of mucus in the chest from a cold, with a deep, wet cough, as in "a chesty cough". tree →
2. (rude, slang) a rude word about a woman's body; not for school. tree →
3. (informal) Having a big, broad chest; proud and showy. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life in the UK, Ireland and Australia, cough medicine boxes say "for chesty coughs" and "for dry coughs". The breast sense is rude slang. Phrases: "a chesty cough", "chesty cold".

Examples

• I've got a chesty cough and I can't stop coughing. tree →
• Mum bought medicine for chesty coughs. tree →
• Grandad sounds chesty this morning. tree →
• The doctor said my chesty cold should clear in a week. tree →
• If a chesty cough lasts for weeks, see a doctor. tree →

Note

Informal. The commonest sense is about coughs. The body-shape sense is rude and should not be used about people. Comparative: chestier, chestiest.