Bite your tongue

Origin: The idiom 'Bite your tongue' dates back to the 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the physical act of biting one's tongue to prevent oneself from speaking out. Over time, it evolved into a figurative expression to signify holding back speech.

Examples

• During the heated meeting, Sarah had to bite her tongue to avoid escalating the argument further.
• John wanted to criticize his colleague's presentation but decided to bite his tongue to maintain team harmony.
• When her friend started discussing politics, Emily bit her tongue, knowing her differing opinion might cause a rift.
• Mark bit his tongue when his boss made an unfair comment about his work, choosing to address it later in private.
• She felt the urge to correct her brother's grammar but bit her tongue to avoid sounding pedantic.
• David bit his tongue during the family dinner, as he didn't want to spoil the mood with his complaints.
• Linda had to bite her tongue when her neighbor bragged about his new car, even though she knew it had problems.
• Despite being frustrated with the service, Tom bit his tongue to avoid creating a scene in the restaurant.
• Maria bit her tongue during the meeting, knowing that speaking up would only complicate the situation.
• Kevin bit his tongue when his friend made a joke at his expense, choosing to laugh it off instead.