clear (one's) throat

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clear (one's) throat

1. Literally, to cough or make a guttural sound in an attempt to relieve a blockage in the throat, as is often caused by phlegm. I'm worried that I'm getting sick because I've had to clear my throat constantly all day long.

2. To make a coughing sound in order to attract attention. When the boss cleared her throat, we immediately stopped talking so that she could start the meeting.

clear your ˈthroat

cough slightly, especially before speaking or to attract somebody’s attention: The lawyer stood up, cleared his throat and began to address the jury.

See also: clear, throat

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

See also:

References in classic literature ?

Miss Polly cleared her throat, and tried to swallow the lump that would scarcely let her speak.

View in context

Each in her turn stepped forward to the edge of the platform, cleared her throat, held up her manuscript

View in context

My friend and her sister left the hospital and exited the main corridor which leads to all wards, when a lady cleared her throat and spat on the pavement outside.

'Walked-in' bugs risk; views

After an uncomfortable minute, a frail 87 year-old tentatively rose from her pew, cleared her throat and started warbling.

A passion for nostalgia

Jo cleared her throat and said: "Does anyone have a recipe for mackerel pate?"

Genius of that Brand

But the former Dundee and Celtic playmaker spent enough time here to know the fat lady hasn't even cleared her throat yet.

TIE IS NOT DANE AND DUSTED

The young mother leaned back and cleared her throat. Her eyes teared and her voice quivered as she explained how her baby disappeared.

Detecting Deception

Momma cleared her throat and told Uncle Beasley that Miss Perkins was our guest, and that the dinner table was not the right place for fool talk.

Uncle Beasley's courtship

She chatted to her friends, incessantly rustled a carrier bag, frequently cleared her throat, got up to go to the toilet, grabbing the back of my chair to do so, slurped from a cola bottle and then belched in my ear.

Letter: YourSay - Show ruined

Something called an iPod Nano I managed to break before the Queen had even cleared her throat by trying to squeeze a CD into the back of it.