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Bite your tongue

Bite your tongue

Meaning

Avoid speaking.

Examples

I knew his wife wasn’t faithful but I didn’t like to say – I thought it best to bite my tongue.

Where did it originate?

Britain. Early (pre 1000AD) English, in the form of hold or keep one’s tongue.

Where is it used?

Worldwide.

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About the Author

Gary Martin is a writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.

Gary Martin

Writer and researcher on the origins of phrases and the creator of the Phrase Finder website. Over the past 26 years more than 700 million of his pages have been downloaded by readers. He is one of the most popular and trusted sources of information on phrases and idioms.
Bite your tongue

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