tongue-tied — unable to speak freely or fluently, especially due to shyness, nervousness, or embarrassment
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: unable to speak freely or fluently, especially due to shyness, nervousness, or embarrassment
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈtʌŋ taɪd/
Example Sentences
- The shy student became tongue-tied when the teacher asked him to introduce himself.
- She's usually very talkative, but she gets tongue-tied around her crush.
- The comedian was tongue-tied for the first time in his career when he forgot his opening joke.
tongue-tied
ADJECTIVE[/ˈtʌŋ taɪd/]
unable to speak freely or fluently, especially due to shyness, nervousness, or embarrassment
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Middle English, combining 'tongue' (the organ of speech) with 'tied' (bound or restricted). This compound word emerged in the 14th century as a vivid metaphor describing the feeling of being unable to speak, as if one's tongue were physically bound.
Breakdown
tongue (the speech organ) + tied (bound/restricted) = unable to speak due to shyness, nervousness, or confusion
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The shy student became tongue-tied when the teacher asked him to introduce himself.”
“She's usually very talkative, but she gets tongue-tied around her crush.”
“The comedian was tongue-tied for the first time in his career when he forgot his opening joke.”
“Don't let stage fright make you tongue-tied during your presentation.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
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