on the tip of your 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 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 tip of one's tongue
- on the tip of tongue
- be on the tip of (one's) tongue
- be on the tip of your tongue
- tip
- give tongue
- get stiffed, to
- tip somebody the wink
- tip someone the wink