| But once, trying to answer a question thrown at him, he choked and spluttered on a treacle toffee. |
| Alex dropped the plate she was washing into the basin and spluttered as the soapy water splashed in her face, stinging her eyes. |
| The heater coughed and spluttered loudly and we both laughed nervously, trying to ease the tension. |
| He opened the throttle but the engine merely coughed and spluttered several times. |
| And from the deep bowels of the ship, an engine coughed, spluttered and finally came on with a roar. |
| He'd driven the van around aimlessly until it had run out of fuel and spluttered and died. |
