1. To get something out of the body by coughing.
She coughed up phlegm all night.
2.To be forced or pressured to give someone something (often information or money).
We asked our friend to cough up some money for the restaurant meal. The man had to cough up some information for the police.
3. To allow an opponent to take the lead in a competition
Sele got a 3-0 lead in the second inning but then coughed it up in the third.