bit one's tongue
Held back speech
To bite one's tongue is to hold back words you want to say—usually criticism, disagreement, or information that might cause trouble.
The image is of physically restraining speech: I wanted to tell him he was wrong, but I bit my tongue.
It implies self-control in the face of provocation or the temptation to speak unwisely.
- keep mumRemain silent intentionally
- keep quietRemain silent
- swallow one's wordsRetract a statement
- held backKept from advancing
- swallow prideAccept wounded dignity
tread carefully · zip it · button your lip · say nothing · self-restraint · lick · chew · regret · taste · drool · swallow · spit · gag reflex · unspoken · tactful · diplomacy · silence · restraint
bit one's tonguespoke one's mind
Shared candid views
spoke up · said one's piece · let it out · spoke out · sounded off
bit one's tonguetold it like it is
Communicated harsh reality directly
let someone have it · shot from the hip · called a spade a spade
bit one's tongueblurted out
Uttered impulsively
flew off the handle · lashed out · lost one's temper · snapped · exploded
bite, biting, bitten, biter, bites, ones, oneself, tongue, tongues