cough out
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cough out
To speak while coughing. A noun or pronoun can be used between "cough" and "out." Although she tried to cough out her presentation, she ultimately had to stop and drink a glass of water. The old man attempted to cough out the location of the treasure before he keeled over, but we couldn't make out what he was saying. After something in the air started irritating my throat, I had to cough out the rest of my speech.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
cough something out
to say something while coughing. He coughed the words out, but no one could understand him. He coughed out the name of his assailant.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.