have words stick in throat

have (one's) words stick in (one's) throat

To be unable to say something, due to one's emotional state. I'm still mad at John, so even though he wanted me to apologize, I had my words stick in my throat. Susie was crying so hard at the funeral that when she tried to speak, she had her words stick in her throat. You really can't say one nice thing about her, can you? Even if you tried, you'd have the words stick in your throat, I bet.

See also: have, stick, throat, word

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

have one's words stick in one's throat

Fig. to be so overcome by emotion that one can hardly speak. I sometimes have my words stick in my throat. John said that he never had his words stick in his throat.

See also: have, stick, throat, word

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.