cough drop
Definition
Noun: A small, medicated lozenge designed to be dissolved slowly in the mouth to relieve throat irritation, cough, or minor throat pain. It typically contains ingredients like menthol, honey, lemon, or mild anesthetics.
Usage
A "cough drop" is used as a temporary remedy. It is consumed by sucking on it, not chewing. - I always keep cough drops in my bag during cold season. - She sucked on a cough drop to soothe her scratchy throat.
Examples
- As a direct object: "The singer took a cough drop before going on stage."
- With a possessive: "My cough drops are all gone."
- Specifying type: "He prefers menthol-flavored cough drops."
Advanced Usage
- "to pass around the cough drops": To share cough drops among a group, often implying several people are ill.
- Half the office was sick, so we were passing around the cough drops.
Variants and Related Words
- Throat lozenge: A more general term for a medicated tablet for throat relief; often used interchangeably with "cough drop."
- Pastille: A small, sweet or medicated lozenge.
Synonyms
- Throat lozenge
- Troche (a more technical/medical term)
Related Phrases/Idioms
No common idioms specifically use the phrase "cough drop."
Noun
-
a medicated lozenge used to soothe the throat
