bite one's tongue

English

Pronunciation

Audio (AU) (file)

Verb

bite one 's tongue

(idiomatic) To forcibly prevent oneself from speaking, especially in order to avoid saying something inappropriate or likely to cause a dispute.
- 2011, Mike Pappas, Growing Up the Greek Way in the Big Apple (page 103)
  She wanted to go see a movie called Gigi, which I was not too thrilled about. But being a gentleman, I bit my tongue and said, “Okay.”

Usage notes

Often used in the imperative mood, to admonish someone who has said something unfeeling or harsh:

Bite your tongue! She has enough on her mind without having to worry about comments like that from you.

Synonyms

bite one's lip

Translations

prevent oneself from uttering a word

Finnish: pitää suu kiinni, pitää turpa tukossa
French: rabattre le caquet (fr), réduire au silence (fr)
Greek: δαγκώνω τη γλώσσα μου (dagkóno ti glóssa mou)
Mongolian: амаа татах (amaa tatah, literally “pull one's mouth”)

Norwegian: hvis du ikke har noe hyggelig å si, si ingen ting
Polish: ugryźć się w język (pl)
Russian: прикуси́ть язы́к pf (prikusítʹ jazýk), придержа́ть язы́к pf (prideržátʹ jazýk)

See also

hold one's tongue

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