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Region: General | Usage example: He was tongue tied in front of the audience.

Tongue tied

Meaning

Unable to speak due to nerves.

Usage

Used to describe performance jitters.

Origin & History

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

Literal feel of being speechless when nervous.

Used in literature for centuries.

Related Idioms

Hold your tongue

Keep quiet; don't speak impulsively.

Bite your tongue

AVoid saying something unwise or hurtful.

Tongue in cheek

Playfully ironic or joking.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.