{"id":3926,"date":"2022-05-27T04:44:49","date_gmt":"2022-05-27T04:44:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=3926"},"modified":"2022-05-27T04:44:49","modified_gmt":"2022-05-27T04:44:49","slug":"bite-your-tongue-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/bite-your-tongue-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Bite Your Tongue \u2013 Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you looking for a way to tell someone to be quiet before they say something they shouldn\u2019t? You could use \u201cbite your tongue<\/em>\u201d to ask them to stay silent. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n

Meaning<\/h2>\n

The expression \u201cbite your tongue<\/em>\u201d means that you should keep quiet and refrain from saying anything. Someone could tell you to bite your tongue, or you could choose to do it on your own accord. If someone else tells you to bite your tongue, they are telling you to shut up before you say something you regret or reveal confidential information they don\u2019t want you to tell other people.<\/strong><\/p>\n

You could say to someone that you had to bite your tongue during the meeting. In this case, it would mean that you had to hold yourself back from saying something that you want people to hear, but you don\u2019t think they are willing to listen.<\/p>\n

You can also use the expression as a way to tell people to stop swearing around children and women. It\u2019s a way of telling people to be careful about what they say, or they might regret it later. To bite your tongue is to hold back, cease, and desist with your speech.<\/p>\n

Example Usage<\/h2>\n

\u201cBite your tongue. There\u2019s no reason to speak in this meeting unless someone addresses you directly. Do you understand me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s something I wanted to say, but I think I\u2019ll bite my tongue. I don\u2019t think you guys would appreciate what I have to say about all this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you think you\u2019re going to blurt something out, just bite your tongue. The last thing we need is for you to make a fool of yourself in front of all of these people.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBite your tongue there. That\u2019s no way to speak to a manager. Don\u2019t you know you can get in serious trouble talking to me like that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBite your tongue, Jefferson. I don\u2019t need to hear your poppycock ideas at this time of the day. If I want to hear from you, I\u2019ll ask you. Now go away.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no reason for you to bite your tongue around here. We believe in free speech, and you\u2019re welcome to express any opinion you have.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy did you bite your tongue back there? I thought you would give that guy a lecture, but you didn\u2019t do anything.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Origin<\/h2>\n

The expression \u201cbite your tongue\u201d originates from as far back as the late 1500s. The earliest recorded use of the phrase is in William Shakespeare\u2019s play \u201cHenry VI Part 2,\u201d written in 1591. The saying appears as follows.<\/p>\n

\u201cReady to starve and dares not touch his own.<\/p>\n

So York must sit, and fret, and bite his tongue,<\/p>\n

While his own lands are bargain\u2019d for and sold.\u201d<\/p>\n

The phrase appears in its modern format and retains the same meaning some 400+ years later.<\/p>\n