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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary

"to chip in" and "to cough up"

A question to native speakers: do you use both of the phrasal verbs interchangeably? I know the dictionary definitions. I want to know how they are used in real life in the UK, the US etc. Thx!
  

Top answer

Except that they can both relate to money, they have little in common and are certainly not interchangeable. You "chip in" to join with other people to purchase something. You and your siblings know your parents would love a cruise, so you all chip in by contributing the money needed to purchase their vacation.

  • Except that they can both relate to money, they have little in common and are certainly not interchangeable.
  • You "chip in" to join with other people to purchase something.
  • You and your siblings know your parents would love a cruise, so you all chip in by contributing the money needed to purchase their vacation.
  • You "cough up" when you reluctantly produce something that someone else is asking for.
  • You can "cough up" your contribution when you had promised to "chip in" but you can cough up information, your sister's diary, or the money for a bet you lost.
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1 Answers
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Except that they can both relate to money, they have little in common and are certainly not interchangeable.

You "chip in" to join with other people to purchase something. You and your siblings know your parents would love a cruise, so you all chip in by contributing the money needed to purchase their vacation.

You "cough up" when you reluctantly produce something that someone e

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