c. 1600, "to clear out the chest or lungs," a literal use of Latin expectoratus, past participle of expectorare, which in classical use was figurative, "scorn, expel from the mind," literally "drive from the breast, make a clean breast," from ex- "out" (see ex-) + pectus (genitive pectoris) "breast" (see pectoral (adj.)). Its use as a euphemism for "spit" is recorded by 1827. The classical Latin figurative sense appears in English 17c. but is now obsolete. Related: Expectorated; expectorating.
实用例句
1. " NEED you expectorate so loudly? "
" 至于这么大声儿 吗 ? " 英迪亚说.
来自飘（部分）
2. During the interview, she coughed fitfully but would not expectorate.
在就诊期间, 她一直咳嗽的很得体,但没有咳出痰来.
来自互联网
3. He began to expectorate small amounts of blood - streaked sputum.