more than you can help

[jasonlulu_2000]

I came across the following sentence while reading:

Don't cough more than you can help.

I cannot make any sense of it. Can you help me to understand this sentence?

Thanks

Jason

[Gillnetter]

I came across the following sentence while reading:

Don't cough more than you can help.

I cannot make any sense of it. Can you help me to understand this sentence?

Thanks

Jason

Do not cough in excess of your ability to control the coughing. This is a fairly common form - "Do not spend any more than you can help". The "you can help" part speaks to your ability to stop or control something.

[Barb_D]

It does make you wonder who spends time coughing optionally.

[SoothingDave]

People who do so rhetorically?

[emsr2d2]

It does seem strange when worded this way. I would expect "Don't cough if you can help it", meaning "Don't cough if you can possibly avoiding doing so".