find (one's) tongue
find (one's) tongue
To regain the ability to speak, especially after feeling frightened, nervous, or at a loss for words. It took him a minute, but Pete found his tongue again after we startled him at his surprise party. The little boy, who had been huddled nervously at the back, found his tongue and told the detectives what happened.
See also: find, tongue
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
find one's tongue
Fig. to be able to talk; to figure out what to say. Tom was speechless for a moment. Then he found his tongue. Ann was unable to find her tongue. She sat there in silence.
See also: find, tongue
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
find your tongue
If you find your tongue, you begin to talk, when you have been too shy, frightened, shocked or embarrassed to say anything before. All four men stared at him. It was Livingstone who found his tongue first.
See also: find, tongue
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
find your ˈvoice/ˈtongue
(informal) finally be able to speak after being too nervous or shy to do so: He sat silent through the first half of the meeting before he found his tongue.See also: find, tongue, voice
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
- find tongue
- find your tongue
- find your voice/tongue
- frighten
- scare
- in a sweat
- in a cold sweat
- break out in a cold sweat
- be frightened to death
- scared to death