Browse all

choke back

B2 neutral separable transitive
In simple words

To stop yourself from crying or showing a strong emotion by forcing it back down.

Literal meaning: To choke on something rising in your throat and force it back — the physical sensation maps directly onto the emotional metaphor.

Meanings

1 B2 idiomatic neutral

To suppress or force back a strong emotion, especially tears or sobs.

"She choked back tears as she read the final paragraph of her father's letter."

"He choked back a sob and continued speaking."

Grammar: separable
2 B2 idiomatic neutral

To suppress laughter, anger, or another impulse that threatens to burst out.

"He choked back a laugh as his colleague tripped over the microphone cord."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Strongly collocates with 'tears,' 'sobs,' 'emotions,' and 'anger.' The image is of something rising in the throat that you physically push back down. Used in both spoken and written English and is particularly common in narrative writing.

Commonly used with

tears sobs emotions anger laughter rage

Forms

Base
choke back
I/you/we/they
3rd person
chokes back
he/she/it
Past simple
choked back
yesterday
Past participle
choked back
have + pp
-ing form
choking back
continuous

Understand "choke back" better

Try:

Real video examples

Video examples are being collected. Check back soon.

Synonyms

hold back fight back suppress stifle bottle up swallow

Want to master this phrasal verb?

Practice "choke back" on Looplines