clear one's throat
Polite attention-getting sound
To clear one's throat is to make a short coughing or grunting sound, often to dislodge mucus or prepare to speak.
The gesture also serves social purposes—signaling discomfort, getting attention, or indicating that someone should stop what they're doing: She cleared her throat pointedly when he started telling the embarrassing story.
- coughExplosive airway clearing
- pauseTemporary cessation of activity
- vocal cordsSound-producing throat membranes
- voiceSound from throat
- vocalizeProduce sounds aloud
public speaking · hoarse · gesture · tickle · interrupt · announce · break the silence · ahem · excuse me · signal · phlegm · mucus · stall · rasp · warm-up · croak · nervousness · nervous habit
clear one's throathold one's tongue
Deliberately not speak
bite one's tongue · keep quiet · say nothing · keep mum · swallow one's words
clear one's throatchoke
Obstruct breathing or airflow
gag · hold one's breath · swallow · gulp · stifle
clear one's throatclam up
Abruptly stop speaking
fall silent · trail off · shut up · hold back · remain silent
clear, clears, cleared, clearing, clearance, clearly, clearness, clearer, clearest