choke back
Stifle rising feelings
To choke back is to suppress or restrain an emotion or its expression, especially with effort: She choked back tears as she read the letter.
The image is of something rising in the throat that must be forced down.
Most often used with tears, sobs, laughter, or anger.
- suppressForcibly put an end to
- stifleSuppress or restrain
- swallowSend down the throat
- curbRaised road margin
- restrainLimit freedom of movement
swallow hard · bottle up · pent up · smother · inhibit · facade · bite one's tongue · unshed · composure · keep it together · well up · stoic · stiff upper lip · subdue · conquer · check · throat · control
- restrainsuppress, hold in, keep in, keep down, restrain
- self-controlself-control, restraint, willpower, composure, moderation