cough syrup
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of cough syrup
First recorded in 1875–80
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"The Europeans took from us anything that was liquid, like a cough syrup," said Rabia.
From BBC • Feb. 3, 2026
Chris Robinson, the actor who played Dr. Rick Webber on “General Hospital” and also introduced America to a classic turn of phrase in a commercial for cough syrup, has died of heart failure.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 12, 2025
Q: I would like to share my recipe for honey and onion cough syrup.
From Seattle Times • Jan. 3, 2024
An old campaign slogan for cough syrup, "It tastes awful. And it works," seemed to imply that any sweet content might have diminished the medicinal effect.
From Science Daily • Oct. 25, 2023
A sense of dread trickled down Percy’s throat like cough syrup.
From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
