Select the option that best expresses the meaning of the idiom: 'Bite your tongue'
- (a)To stop yourself from saying something because it would be better not to
- (b)To bite off your tongue while eating
- (c)To feel sorry
- (d)To ask someone something that you want
Answer
A
Why
Correct — A, To stop yourself from saying something because it would be better not to. 'Bite your tongue' means to hold back a remark you are tempted to make — to stay silent to avoid causing offence or trouble. It is not a literal act of biting.
Why the others are wrong
- (b)To bite off your tongue while eating — A literal misreading; the idiom is figurative and is not about physically biting the tongue.
- (c)To feel sorry — Related to regret, not to restraining speech, which is a different idea.
- (d)To ask someone something that you want — The opposite of the idiom, which is about not speaking, not about asking for something.
Concept
The idiom 'bite your tongue' means to stop yourself from saying something you would rather not say aloud.
Related PYQs
No directly related past PYQ was found.
Practice
- practice — not a real PYQ
The idiom 'hold your tongue' means:
- (a)to speak loudly
- (b)to remain silent
- (c)to tell a lie
- (d)to sing
Answer(b) to remain silent.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Choose the meaning of 'zip your lip'.
- (a)to eat quickly
- (b)to stop talking
- (c)to smile
- (d)to whisper
Answer(b) to stop talking.