choke down
B2 informal separable transitive
In simple words
To force yourself to eat or drink something that tastes horrible or that you really don't want to swallow.
Literal meaning: To choke while forcing something down the throat — transparent and visceral.
Meanings
1 B1 informal
To swallow food, drink, or medicine with great difficulty because it is unpleasant.
"The children choked down the bitter cough syrup, making faces the entire time."
Grammar: separable
2 B2
idiomatic
informal
To suppress or force back a strong emotion or reaction with great difficulty.
"He choked down his anger and managed to respond in a calm, professional tone."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
Used both literally (food/drink) and figuratively (emotions, difficult truths). The literal sense is very vivid and colloquial. Often suggests disgust or extreme reluctance rather than simple dislike.
Commonly used with
food medicine pride anger reply meal
Forms
Base
choke down
I/you/we/they
3rd person
chokes down
he/she/it
Past simple
choked down
yesterday
Past participle
choked down
have + pp
-ing form
choking down
continuous
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Synonyms
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