The track was released in the United Kingdom on 14 October 2012 as the lead single from the band's second studio album, Arc (2013).

[2] Tom Howard of NME praised the track, commenting "Yeah… so… um… wait a second go Everything Everything like the shy and polite young chaps they are.

[3] "Cough Cough" was also met with positive reception from Doron Davidson-Vidavski of Londonist, who noted it as a "manic and wonderful track [which] highlights all that is unique about the quartet: choppy song structures, hectic vocals and hooksome melodies.

For the chart week dated 27 October 2012, "Cough Cough" debuted at number thirty-seven on the UK Singles Chart—marking the band's first top forty entry—beating previous highest-charting single "My Kz, Ur Bf" (#121, 2010).

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Arc, RCA Records, UMP.