English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Hold tongue
Meaning
The idiom "hold tongue" means to keep quiet, refrain from speaking, or not say something that may upset someone. It is a way of suppressing one's thoughts or emotions to avoid causing harm or discomfort to others.
Usage
- She had to hold her tongue when he started talking about politics at the dinner table.
- He told me to hold my tongue until he finished his presentation.
- When she found out that her friend was cheating on her, she held her tongue and decided not to confront her.
- The manager asked me to hold my tongue when I disagreed with the decision he made.
- She had to hold her tongue and let her colleague take credit for the project they worked on together.
Roots and History
The origin of the idiom is uncertain, but it has been used in English since at least the 16th century. One theory suggests that it comes from the act of biting one's tongue to restrain oneself from speaking out during a heated argument or debate. Another theory suggests that it comes from the act of holding one's tongue against one's teeth to prevent oneself from retorting or arguing back. The idiom may have originally been used in a literal sense, but over time, it has taken on a figurative meaning as a way of suggesting that one should keep quiet or not say something that may be hurtful or upsetting.
Synonyms in English
- Keep quiet
- Be silent
- Hold back
- Stay calm
- Control your temper
Synonyms in other languages
- Spanish: Mantener el silencio (to maintain silence)
- French: Tenir le silence (to keep silence)
- German: Stumm sein (to be quiet)
- Italian: Rimanere tranquillo (to stay calm)
- Portuguese: Manter o silêncio (to keep silence)