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Glite Dictionary
postnasal drip

postnasal drip

1 3.6
Mucus from the nose that runs down the back of the throat and causes coughing or throat irritation
  • noun
  • /ˌpoʊstˈneɪzl drɪp/
translation icon : goteo posnasal
  • She often experiences postnasal drip during allergy season, which makes her throat feel sore.

Examples

  • The doctor explained that postnasal drip can lead to coughing, especially at night.

  • When is postnasal drip caused by a nasal or sinus problem, and when is it actually a red herring?

    Academic text (2002)

  • Many people don't realize that postnasal drip is a common symptom of colds and sinus infections.

Surface Forms

postnasal drip singular
postnasal drips plural

Morphology

postnasal + drip

The term is directly compositional: 'postnasal' (behind or toward the rear of the nose) combined with 'drip' (a falling or flowing of liquid) clearly yields the idea of mucus flowing from the nasal area downwards. Although somewhat clinical, the parts are semantically transparent and similar literal constructions exist in other languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can reasonably infer the meaning.

Etymology

Postnasal drip gives a simple picture: the parts post, nasal and drip show mucus 'behind' the nose that 'drips' down the throat. That's why the phrase means the condition where mucus flows down the back of the throat and causes coughing or throat irritation.