12 Idioms related to human tongue

Posted by Olympiad Tester on Dec 31, 2023

1. Bite your tongue

Meaning: To refrain from speaking or expressing one's thoughts, especially to avoid saying something offensive or inappropriate.
Sentence Usage 1: She had to bite her tongue during the heated argument to prevent escalating the situation.
Sentence Usage 2: It's sometimes challenging to bite your tongue when faced with criticism, but it's a valuable skill.

2. Get your tongue round something

Meaning: To pronounce or articulate a challenging or unfamiliar word or phrase correctly.
Sentence Usage 1: It took some practice, but eventually, she could get her tongue round the tricky pronunciation.
Sentence Usage 2: Learning a new language involves getting your tongue round various sounds and accents.

3. Give the (rough) edge of your tongue

Meaning: To scold or reprimand someone harshly or angrily.
Sentence Usage 1: The teacher gave the student the rough edge of her tongue for repeatedly disrupting the class.
Sentence Usage 2: He received the rough edge of her tongue when he failed to meet the deadline for the project.

4. Hold your tongue

Meaning: To refrain from speaking or expressing one's thoughts, usually in a challenging or frustrating situation.
Sentence Usage 1: It's wise to hold your tongue when emotions are running high to avoid saying things you might regret.
Sentence Usage 2: Despite the urge to respond, he chose to hold his tongue during the tense meeting.

5. Keep a civil tongue

Meaning: To speak politely and avoid using offensive or rude language.
Sentence Usage 1: It's important to keep a civil tongue, especially when engaging in discussions about sensitive topics.
Sentence Usage 2: In a professional setting, it's crucial to keep a civil tongue when communicating with colleagues and clients.

6. Slip of the tongue

Meaning: An unintentional error in speaking, especially saying something different from what was intended.
Sentence Usage 1: His apology clarified that it was just a slip of the tongue, and he didn't mean to offend anyone.
Sentence Usage 2: She quickly corrected the slip of the tongue during the live broadcast.

7. On the tip of your tongue

Meaning: Almost able to recall or remember something, but not quite.
Sentence Usage 1: The answer was on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn't remember it during the quiz.
Sentence Usage 2: The name of the song is on the tip of my tongue, but I can't seem to recall it.

8. Tongue in cheek

Meaning: A statement or action that is not meant to be taken seriously, usually with a humorous or ironic intent.
Sentence Usage 1: His compliment about her being a superhero was made with a tongue-in-cheek tone.
Sentence Usage 2: The article was written with a tongue-in-cheek style, poking fun at common stereotypes.

9. Tongue-lashing

Meaning: A severe or harsh scolding or verbal attack.
Sentence Usage 1: After the mistake, he received a tongue-lashing from his boss in the meeting.
Sentence Usage 2: The player got a tongue-lashing from the coach for not following the team's strategy.

10. Tongue-tied

Meaning: Unable to speak or express oneself verbally, often due to nervousness or shyness.
Sentence Usage 1: In the presence of the celebrity, she became tongue-tied and couldn't ask for an autograph.
Sentence Usage 2: When presenting in front of a large audience, he sometimes becomes tongue-tied.

11. Set tongues wagging

Meaning: To cause gossip or speculation; to create a buzz or stir in conversation.
Sentence Usage 1: Their unexpected collaboration set tongues wagging in the entertainment industry.
Sentence Usage 2: The mysterious arrival of the new employee set tongues wagging among the colleagues.

12. Silver-tongued

Meaning: Fluent, eloquent, and persuasive in speech, often with the ability to deceive or manipulate.
Sentence Usage 1: The politician was known for being silver-tongued, captivating audiences with persuasive speeches.
Sentence Usage 2: Despite his silver-tongued charm, there was a sense of caution about trusting his promises.