Throat full of frogs

Posted by James Briggs on May 16, 2006

In Reply to: Throat full of frogs posted by ESC on May 16, 2006

: : throat full of frogs

: I have heard: "I have a frog in my throat." Said by a person who is hoarse or needs to clear his throat.

To have a frog in the throat describes a choking sensation in the throat.
Here's a suggested origin:
In the past in was feared that a frog was really present when this sensation occurred. In olden times people often drank from ponds and streams; there was always the possibility of swallowing a whole animal or, worse, its eggs. If the eggs were taken in, then they were said to hatch inside and, when ready to come out, would cause a choking feeling.
However, 'our' archives say that it comes from OE 'frogga', meaning 'hoarseness'. Personally, the expression for me is one of choking, not hoarseness: thus I'm not convinced by the 'frogga' origin.

• Frog in my throat RRC 16/May/06
  • Frog in my throat pamela 18/May/06