Feifei Good to be back at work, Neil?
Neil Yes, Feifei. I feel a bit better now. Just got a… just a little… just a bit of a cough.
Feifei Anyway, it’s good to have you here because you can finally pay me.
Neil Oh. Right. Why’s that?
Feifei Well, remember you said you didn’t believe I could stand on my head?
Neil I do. I said I would give you £10 if you can do it.
Feifei Yes. Well…
Neil No way!
Feifei There we are. On my head. £10 please. Time to cough up, Neil.
Neil OK, OK! You can come down now.
Feifei Not bad huh? Now, how about you ‘cough up’, and I explain what it means?
Neil Hey, I was only joking about the £10. Oh OK, there you go.
Feifei Thank you. If you ‘cough up’, it means you give someone money, especially if you don’t want to.
Neil Yes, I didn’t want to give Feifei the money, but I said I would so I had to cough up.
Feifei Indeed. Time for some examples…
Examples
I waited two whole weeks for my new TV to be delivered. And then I had to cough up an extra £15 for the delivery! I can’t believe it.
My last trip to the library was expensive. I had to cough up for the fines for all the books I returned late. Whoops.
When I sat on my colleague’s glasses he asked me to cough up £100 to buy a new pair. I must admit, the new ones are an improvement.
Neil You’re listening to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English. The expression we’re looking at in this programme is ’to cough up'.
Feifei Neil, that cough is still sounding bad. Have you tried the cough medicine I use?
Neil Not yet. It’s just a little expensive. £10 for a little bottle of medicine!
Feifei It’s worth it. Listen, if you won’t cough up, I’ll give you the £10 back if you promise to buy it.
Neil That’s very kind.
Feifei Not a problem. And while you go to the pharmacy, I’m going to practise presenting the programme standing on my head. It’s good for blood circulation, apparently.
Neil Standing on your head is one thing, but presenting a whole programme? No way.
Feifei Are you sure! £10 says I can!
Neil Haha. OK then. Bye.
Feifei Bye.