cough

Everyday

1. To cough is to push air out of your lungs suddenly with a loud noise, often because something is in your throat or you are ill. tree →
2. A cough is this action or sound. tree →
3. A cough is an illness that makes you cough a lot. tree →
4. A machine or engine coughs when it makes a rough sound. tree →

In the lessons

In health and hygiene lessons, cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your elbow, throw the tissue away and wash your hands, so germs do not spread. A cough is the body clearing the airways. A cough that lasts weeks or comes with trouble breathing needs a doctor. Phrases: cough and sneeze, catch it in your elbow, a bad cough, cough medicine, cough up (pay or give, informal), whooping cough.

Examples

• Cover your mouth when you cough. tree →
• I've had a cough all week. tree →
• The smoke made us cough. tree →
• The doctor gave me cough medicine. tree →
• He coughed politely to get our attention. tree →
• The old car coughed and stopped. tree →
• Come on, cough up the money you owe! tree →
• It was NOVEMBER, who coughed violently as he got out. tree →

Note

Pronounced "koff" — the "-ough" spelling is tricky (compare tough, through, though, dough). If someone is choking and cannot cough or breathe, it is an emergency; get an adult immediately.