love and cough cannot be hidden

used to imply that attempting to conceal feelings of love or affection is often unsuccessful, as they have a tendency to become apparent to others, just like the physical reflex of coughing

The origin of the proverb "love and cough cannot be hidden" is not tied to a specific historical source but reflects a common belief that certain emotions or physical states are difficult to conceal. Love, like a cough, tends to show through in behavior, body language, or other signs, even if someone tries to hide it. The message suggests that emotions such as love are naturally revealed, just as a cough is hard to hide. This proverb is often used to describe situations where someone's feelings or affections are obvious to others, despite efforts to keep them secret.