go down the wrong way

go down the wrong way

Of food or drink, to be swallowed in such a way that one briefly chokes or starts coughing. Oh, she'll be all right, I think she just took a drink and it went down the wrong way. A: "Oh, geez, are you OK?" B: "Ack, yeah—my tea just went down the wrong way!" Sorry about all that coughing! Whew, my water went down the wrong way.

See also: down, go, way, wrong

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

go down the wrong way

(of food) enter the windpipe instead of the gullet.

See also: down, go, way, wrong

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017