destoserse

A rare, mostly literary reflexive verb meaning to give a deliberate, fake cough — to clear one's throat as a signal before speaking, or to feign coughing to draw attention or fill an awkward silence. It's distinct from toser (to cough involuntarily, from illness); destoserse is a cough performed on purpose.

• Se destosió antes de tomar la palabra. — He gave a little cough to clear his throat before speaking.
• El actor se destosió para captar la atención del público. — The actor gave a deliberate cough to catch the audience's attention.
• Nadie decía nada; alguien se destosió para romper el silencio. — Nobody said anything; someone coughed on purpose to break the silence.

Confusing destoserse (a deliberate, signaling cough) with toser (an involuntary cough from illness or irritation) — the reflexive destoserse specifically implies the cough is put on, not a symptom.

Often confused with toser.