Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

hold one's tongue

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.05 in modern English

Syllables: hold one's -tongue
IPA

19

Scrabble Score

14

Letters

2

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To refrain from talking about something.

Example Sentences

"I don't like his political ideas, but I will hold my tongue."
"“Hold your tongue, beadle,” said the second old gentleman, when Mr. Bumble had given vent to this compound adjective. “I beg your worship’s pardon,” said Mr. Bumble, incredulous of his having heard aright,—“did your worship speak to me?” “Yes—hold your tongue.”"
"Except in the case of personal attacks, that space is reserved for readers' opinions, and we on the staff agree to hold our tongues (despite our opinionated natures) and leave it to letter-readers to form their own judgments."

Inflected Forms

holds one's tongue (present, singular) holding one's tongue (participle, present) held one's tongue (participle, past) held one's tongue (past)

Phrases

bite one's tongue

Frequently Paired Words

bite one's tongue

Questions

What does hold one's tongue mean?: To refrain from talking about something.

How to pronounce hold one's tongue

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