I tried to choke the unpleasant words back, but I could not.
•She choked back her grief, but it came forth nonetheless.
•I could hardly choke my tears back.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
choke something back — SUPPRESS, hold back, fight back, bite back, swallow, check, restrain, control, repress, smother, stifle; informal keep a/the lid on. → choke * * * suppress a strong emotion or the expression of such an emotion Liz was choking back her anger * * * … Useful english dictionary
keep something back — 1) she kept back some of the money Syn: reserve, keep in reserve, put aside/by, set aside; retain, hold back, hold on to, not part with; informal stash away 2) she kept back the details Syn: withhold, keep secret, keep hidden … Thesaurus of popular words
keep something back — 1 she kept back some of the money: (KEEP IN) RESERVE, put by/aside, set aside; retain, hold back, keep, hold on to, not part with; N. Amer. set by; informal stash away. 2 she kept back the details … Useful english dictionary
hold something back — 1 Jane held back the tears: SUPPRESS, fight back, choke back, stifle, smother, subdue, rein in, repress, curb, control, keep a tight rein on; … Useful english dictionary
choke — 1 verb 1 STOP BREATHING (I, T) to prevent someone from breathing, or to be prevented from breathing, because your throat is blocked or because there is not enough air: The fumes were choking me. (+ on): He choked to death on a fish bone. 2 INJURE … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
choke off — verb 1. suppress (Freq. 2) He choked down his rage • Syn: ↑choke down, ↑choke back • Hypernyms: ↑suppress, ↑stamp down, ↑inhibit, ↑ … Useful english dictionary
choke down — verb suppress He choked down his rage • Syn: ↑choke off, ↑choke back • Hypernyms: ↑suppress, ↑stamp down, ↑inhibit, ↑subdue, ↑conquer, ↑ … Useful english dictionary
choke — [tʃəʊk] verb I 1) [I/T] if you choke, or if something chokes you, you cannot breathe because there is not enough air, or because something is blocking your throat Joe took a bite of the steak and started to choke.[/ex] Ruth almost choked on a… … Dictionary for writing and speaking English
choke — choke1 [tʃəuk US tʃouk] v [Date: 1300 1400; Origin: achoke to choke (11 14 centuries), from Old English aceocian] 1.) to be unable to breathe properly because something is in your throat or there is not enough air choke on ▪ He choked on a piece… … Dictionary of contemporary English
choke — choke1 [ tʃouk ] verb * ▸ 1 not be able to breathe ▸ 2 squeeze someone s neck ▸ 3 fill so moving is hard ▸ 4 speak with difficulty ▸ 5 lose confidence and fail ▸ 6 stop growth ▸ 7 stop development ▸ + PHRASES 1. ) intransitive or transitive if… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
choke back — verb suppress He choked down his rage • Syn: ↑choke off, ↑choke down • Hypernyms: ↑suppress, ↑stamp down, ↑inhibit, ↑subdue, ↑conquer, ↑ … Useful english dictionary
