choking
Can't breathe suddenly
Choking is the obstruction of airways that prevents breathing: The baby was choking on a grape.
By extension, choking describes anything constricted or overwhelmed: choking traffic, a voice choking with emotion.
In sports and performance contexts, choking means failing under pressure—freezing when the stakes are high: He choked in the finals.
Death from oxygen loss
- obstructionSomething blocking the way
- blockageObstruction halting movement
- airwayPassage for breath
- swallowingIngesting via throat muscles
food safety · prevention · warning label · child safety · aspiration · lodged · windpipe · throat
Death from oxygen loss
- strangulationDeath by neck compression
- smotheringDepriving of air
- throttlingRestricting flow or speed
- gaspingBreathing in sharp gulps
breathless · hypoxia · anoxia · constriction · airway · dyspnea · apnea · cyanosis
Involuntary speech repetition
- stutteringInvoluntary speech disfluency
- voice crackingInvoluntary pitch fluctuation
- tongue-tiedUnable to express oneself
- falteringBecoming unsteady or weak
hesitation · gagging · spluttering · coughing · clearing throat · hoarse · raspy · inaudible
Lifesaving anti-choking procedure
- first aidInitial injury treatment
- 911Crisis response number
- emergency servicesUrgent public safety organizations
- paramedicsEmergency medical technicians
ambulance · CPR · tracheotomy · back blows · abdominal thrusts · dislodge · life-saving · intervention
Mechanism linking engine to gearbox
- nervesTense apprehension
- performance anxietyFear of public execution
- freezingExtremely cold
- bucklingBending from compression
crumbling · panic · stage fright · blowing it · high stakes · critical moment · yips · mental block
Violent pulls apart
- sobbingConvulsive crying aloud
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
- overwhelmedDefeated by sheer volume
- lump in throatTight feeling when emotional
speechless · overcome · moved · emotional · tearful · heartache · sentiment · poignant
Knotted collar ornament
- turtleneckHigh-collared pullover
- necklaceNeck-worn ornament
- restrictiveImposing narrow boundaries
- bindingLegally or morally required
squeezing · uncomfortable · loosening · unbuttoning · snug · pressing · gripping · encircling
asphyxiation
Death from oxygen loss
- obstructionSomething blocking the way
- blockageObstruction halting movement
- airwayPassage for breath
swallowing · food safety · prevention · warning label · child safety · aspiration · lodged · windpipe · throat · gulp
asphyxiation
Death from oxygen loss
- strangulationDeath by neck compression
- smotheringDepriving of air
- throttlingRestricting flow or speed
gasping · breathless · hypoxia · anoxia · constriction · airway · dyspnea · apnea · cyanosis · oxygen deprivation
stammering
Involuntary speech repetition
- stutteringInvoluntary speech disfluency
- voice crackingInvoluntary pitch fluctuation
- tongue-tiedUnable to express oneself
faltering · hesitation · gagging · spluttering · coughing · clearing throat · hoarse · raspy · inaudible · muffled
Heimlich maneuver
Lifesaving anti-choking procedure
- first aidInitial injury treatment
- 911Crisis response number
- emergency servicesUrgent public safety organizations
paramedics · ambulance · CPR · tracheotomy · back blows · abdominal thrusts · dislodge · life-saving · intervention · rescue breathing
clutch
Mechanism linking engine to gearbox
- nervesTense apprehension
- performance anxietyFear of public execution
- freezingExtremely cold
buckling · crumbling · panic · stage fright · blowing it · high stakes · critical moment · yips · mental block · self-doubt
tears
Violent pulls apart
- sobbingConvulsive crying aloud
- griefIntense sorrow from loss
- overwhelmedDefeated by sheer volume
lump in throat · speechless · overcome · moved · emotional · tearful · heartache · sentiment · poignant · bittersweet
necktie
Knotted collar ornament
- turtleneckHigh-collared pullover
- necklaceNeck-worn ornament
- restrictiveImposing narrow boundaries
binding · squeezing · uncomfortable · loosening · unbuttoning · snug · pressing · gripping · encircling · cinching
- eating mishapsspilling, dripping, burning mouth, biting tongue, brain freeze
- survival statesalive, dead, dying, injured, safe
- breathing problemsrespiratory arrest, respiratory distress, apnea, hypoxia, asphyxiation
- death causescause of death, natural causes, manner of death, accidental death, natural death
- dirty playcheap shot, cheap shots, dirty play, foul play, late hit
- fatal hazardsaccidents, drowning, falls, poisoning, overdose
chokingbreathing
Pulmonary gas exchange
respiring · unblocking · clearing · inhaling · exhaling
chokingunblocking
Removing an obstacle
freeing · opening · clearing · releasing · unclogging
chokingclutch
Mechanism linking engine to gearbox
coming through · rising to the occasion · delivering · performing · nailing it
- choking upBecoming too emotional to speak
- choking backSuppressing an emotional outburst
- choking hazardItem risking airway blockage
- choking downSwallowing with effort
- choking offBlocking passage completely
- choking outConstricting airway forcibly