choke back
Related to choke back: choke off
choke back
To try to keep from expelling something, such as words or tears. A noun or pronoun can be used between "choke" and "back." I choked back a question about her boyfriend as soon as I remembered that they had broken up. I didn't feel sick until after the ceremony had started, so I had to choke back vomit the entire time.
See also: back, choke
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
choke something back
to fight hard to keep something from coming out of one's mouth, such as sobs, tears, angry words, vomit, etc. I tried to choke the unpleasant words back, but I could not. She choked back her grief, but it came forth nonetheless. I could hardly choke my tears back.
See also: back, choke
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
choke back
Suppress, as in He choked back his tears. [Late 1800s]
See also: back, choke
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
choke back
v.
To suppress or hold something back, especially with great effort: I choked back tears as I told my family the sad news.
See also: back, choke
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs.
- cut back
- brush back
- claw back
- bring back
- chop back
- buck off
- echo back to
- be/go back to square one
- come back and see us
- back to square one