tongue-tied

tongue-tied
See: TIGHT-LIPPED.

Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.

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  • Tongue-tied — a. 1. Destitute of the power of distinct articulation; having an impediment in the speech, esp. when caused by a short fr[ae]num. [1913 Webster] 2. Unable to speak freely, from whatever cause. [1913 Webster] Love, therefore, and tongue tied simp …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • tongue-tied — adj unable to talk in a relaxed way because you feel nervous or embarrassed ▪ When adults spoke to her, she became tongue tied and shy …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • tongue-tied — If someone is tongue tied, they are speechless or cannot  say what they want, often through shyness or embarrassment …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • tongue-tied — təŋ .tīd adj characteristic of or affected with tongue tie …   Medical dictionary

  • tongue-tied — tongue′ tied adj. 1) unable to speak, as from shyness, embarrassment, or surprise 2) pat affected with tongue tie • Etymology: 1520–30 …   From formal English to slang

  • tongue-tied — [tuŋ′tīd΄] adj. 1. having a condition of tongue tie 2. speechless from amazement, embarrassment, etc …   English World dictionary

  • tongue-tied — index inarticulate, mute, speechless Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • tongue-tied — tongue ,tied adjective unable to speak because you are nervous or embarrassed …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • tongue-tied — [adj] speechless aghast, amazed, astounded, at a loss for words, bashful, choked up, dazed, dumbfounded, dumbstruck, inarticulate, mum, mute, shocked, shy, silent, stammering, uncommunicative, voiceless; concept 267 …   New thesaurus

  • tongue-tied — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ too shy or embarrassed to speak …   English terms dictionary

  • tongue-tied — 1. mod. unable to speak from fear or confusion. (Standard English.) □ I was tongue tied and useless. □ Why do you get tongue tied in front of a crowd? 2. mod. alcohol intoxicated. □ He was tongue tied and couldn’t stand up …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

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