English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Bite tongue
Meaning
The idiom "bite tongue" means to hold back one's criticism, opinions, or emotions, especially when they might be hurtful or inconvenient to someone else. It can also mean to swallow one's words or not react in a way that one would normally.
Usage
- I had to bite my tongue during the meeting because my boss was presenting poorly and I didn't want to embarrass him.
- When asked about her brother's behavior, she bit her tongue and said nothing.
- He bit his tongue when he heard the controversial joke at the party.
- She had to bite her tongue during the argument between her parents because she didn't want to take sides.
- I always bite my tongue when I see someone make a mistake, even if I think it was their fault.
Roots and History
The idiom "bite one's tongue" has been in use since at least the 14th century, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. It comes from the literal act of biting one's tongue and has been used figuratively since at least the early 20th century. The meaning of the idiom has remained relatively consistent over time, but its usage may vary depending on the context or the relationship between the person biting their tongue and the person they are holding back criticism for.
Synonyms in English
- Swallow one's words
- Hold back one's opinion
- Control one's temper
- Keep one's mouth shut
- Stifle one's emotions
Synonyms in other languages
- In Spanish, the equivalent idiom is "tirar la lengua" which means to stick out one's tongue, symbolizing speaking out and being honest.
- In French, the equivalent idiom is "fermer sa bouche" which means to close one's mouth, symbolizing not reacting or holding back.
- In Italian, the equivalent idiom is "bocca chiusa" which means closed mouth, symbolizing keeping quiet and not speaking out.
- In German, the equivalent idiom is "schweigen" which means to be silent, symbolizing not reacting or holding back.
- In Russian, the equivalent idiom is "жить на рассказах" which means to live off rumors, symbolizing not speaking out and keeping one's mouth shut.