On the tip of my tongue

Meaning

The idiom "on the tip of my tongue" means that something is almost ready to be remembered or expressed, but it hasn't quite come to mind yet. It can also indicate that someone is thinking of something and will speak or act on it soon. The figurative meaning is often used to describe a situation that is about to change or an idea that is on the brink of being realized.

Usage

• I know you were thinking of asking me out on a date, but your question slipped my mind. It's only on the tip of my tongue, but I promise to make it up to you soon.
• The solution to this problem has been on the tip of my tongue for days now. I just need a little more time to think it through.
• My friend was asking me about our project deadline, but I couldn't remember the exact date. It's on the tip of my tongue, I swear!
• The next step in our plan is to launch our new product, which has been on the tip of my tongue for weeks now. We just need to finalize a few details before we can make it official.
• My sister was thinking of moving to another city, but she hasn't decided yet. It's only on the tip of her tongue, but I can tell she's been considering it.

Roots and History

The earliest known use of the idiom "on the tip of my tongue" dates back to the 17th century, where it was used in various writings and texts. It originally referred to something that was about to be said or done, but had not yet been expressed fully. Over time, the meaning of the idiom has evolved to describe a situation that is on the brink of being realized or an idea that is almost ready to be expressed.

Synonyms in English

• Just under my breath
• On the verge of
• About to happen/be said
• Ready to come out
• Almost there

Synonyms in other languages

• On the point d'être dit en français (French)
• Náchodný (Czech)
• Na krku (Czech)
• Použití kušetnictví (Portuguese)
• Uma frase que está a passar pela minha cabeça (Spanish)

Similar Idioms

• out of mind

• on the drawing board

• lose it