choke on

B1 neutral transitive

In simple words

To almost stop breathing because something got stuck in your throat, or to be so shocked or offended by something that you react strongly.

Literal meaning: To choke while consuming or inhaling something specific — largely transparent.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

common

To have one's airway partially or fully blocked by food, liquid, or another substance.

"Be careful not to eat too fast — he nearly choked on a fish bone at dinner."

Grammar: inseparable

2 B2 idiomatic neutral

uncommon

To be so shocked, offended, or outraged by something that one can barely respond.

"He nearly choked on the irony of a politician championing honesty after years of lying."

Grammar: inseparable

Usage notes

The literal sense is A2-level (a physical emergency). The figurative sense (choking on someone's words, choking on an idea) is B2-level and implies outrage, disbelief, or moral disgust. Common in both spoken and written English.

Commonly used with

food bone words smoke water irony

Forms

Base

choke on

I/you/we/they

3rd person

chokes on

he/she/it

Past simple

choked on

yesterday

Past participle

choked on

have + pp

-ing form

choking on

continuous

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Synonyms

gag on nearly choke be offended by balk at struggle with

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