- tongue-tied
- `tongue-,tied adjectiveunable to speak because you are nervous or embarrassed
Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.
tongue-tied
Look at other dictionaries:
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 — [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
