bite your tongue

bite your tongue
bite your tongue/lip/ phrase
to stop yourself from saying something that might upset or annoy someone

I almost told her what I thought of her, but I bit my tongue.

Thesaurus: to stop talking, or to not say anythingsynonym
Main entry: bite

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bite your tongue (also bite your lip)
informal : to not speak : to stop yourself from saying something that you are tempted to say

I thought she was acting foolishly, but I bit my tongue [=held my tongue] and didn't say anything.

— often used as a command

“I hope he gets hurt.” “Bite your tongue! [=don't say that] That's a terrible thing to say!”

• • •
Main Entry: ↑bite
————————
bite your tongue — see ↑bite, 1
• • •
Main Entry: ↑tongue

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bite your ˈtongue idiom
to stop yourself from saying sth that might upset sb or cause an argument, although you want to speak

•

I didn't believe her explanation but I bit my tongue.

Main entry: ↑biteidiom

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • bite your tongue — If you bite your tongue, you refrain from speaking because it is socially or otherwise better not to …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • bite your tongue — bite (your) tongue to stop yourself from saying something because it would be better not to, even if you would like to say it. I really wanted to tell her what I thought of him but I had to bite my tongue …   New idioms dictionary

  • Bite Your Tongue — For the Duncan Sheik single, see Bite Your Tongue (song). Bite Your Tongue Studio album by Tiffani Wood Released 14 October 2006 Recorded 2004, 2005, 2006 …   Wikipedia

  • Bite your tongue! — exclam. Be sorry you said that!; Take back what you said! □ Me a thief? Oh, bite your tongue! □ Why do you say that this will fail? Bite your tongue! …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • bite your tongue —    If you bite your tongue, you stop yourself from saying what you really think.     Sam decided to bite his tongue rather than get into an argument …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • bite your tongue — do not say that, you should not have said that    When I mention Dad s temper Mom says, Bite your tongue …   English idioms

  • Bite Your Tongue (song) — Infobox Single Name = Bite Your Tongue Artist = Duncan Sheik from Album = Humming Released = 1998 Format = CD Recorded = Genre = Rock Length = 3:55 (Album Version) Label = Atlantic Records Producer = Duncan Sheik Last single = Wishful Thinking… …   Wikipedia

  • bite your tongue (to) —  Be quiet, say nothing …   American business jargon

  • bite your lip — bite your tongue/lip/ phrase to stop yourself from saying something that might upset or annoy someone I almost told her what I thought of her, but I bit my tongue. Thesaurus: to stop talking, or to not say anythingsynonym Main entry: bite …   Useful english dictionary

  • bite your lip —    If you have to bite your lip, you have to make a conscious effort not to react or to keep quiet about something that displeases you.   (Dorking School Dictionary)    ***    If you bite your tongue, you refrain from speaking because it is… …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

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