on the tip of (one's) tongue
on the tip of (one's) tongue
Almost able to be recalled. Her name is on the tip of my tongue. Just give me a minute, I'll remember it. I had the answer on the tip of my tongue, but couldn't think of it in time.
See also: of, on, tip, tongue
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
*on the tip of one's tongue
Fig. [of a thought or idea] about to be said or almost remembered. (*Typically: be ~; have something ~.) I have his name right on the tip of my tongue. I'll think of it in a second. John had the answer on the tip of his tongue, but Anne said it first.
See also: of, on, tip, tongue
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
on the tip of one's tongue
Ready to utter something but unable to remember it at the moment, as in I met him last year and his name is on the tip of my tongue-it'll come to me in a minute . [Early 1700]
See also: of, on, tip, tongue
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
on the tip of your tongue
1. If a remark or question is on the tip of your tongue, you want to say it, but stop yourself. `What do you make of it?' he said after a while. It was on the tip of my tongue to tell him he'd have to ask Charlie. But I said nothing.
2. If something such as a word, answer, or name is on the tip of your tongue, you know it and can almost remember it, but not quite. I know this, no, no, don't tell me, oh, it's on the tip of my tongue. What's the quickest way to remember a name that's on the tip of your tongue, but you just can't recall?
See also: of, on, tip, tongue
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
on the tip of (one's) tongue
On the verge of being recalled or expressed.
See also: of, on, tip, tongue
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
on the tip of one's tongue
Ready to say something but unable to remember it precisely. This graphic image was stated early in the eighteenth century by Daniel Defoe (Moll Flanders, 1722): “She had arguments at the tip of her tongue.” However, a similar term that is even older had quite a different meaning: at one’s tongue’s end meant that one could not keep from saying something but blurted it out. Thus, “Having always at her tongue’s end that excellent proverb” (Henry Fielding, Amelia, 1751) meant she could not stop repeating it. This version is obsolete, but “on the tip of the tongue” has been a cliché since about 1850.
See also: of, on, tip, tongue
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
- on the tip of one's tongue
- on the tip of tongue
- on the tip of your tongue
- be on the tip of (one's) tongue
- be on the tip of your tongue
- tip
- give tongue
- get stiffed, to
- tip (one) the wink
- tip somebody the wink