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.
separable
choke back
B2 neutral separable transitive
To suppress or force back a strong emotion, especially tears, sobs, or anger.
In plain English
To stop yourself from crying or showing a strong emotion by forcing it back down.
What does "choke back" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
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."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To choke on something rising in your throat and force it back — the physical sensation maps directly onto the emotional metaphor.
Actually means
To stop yourself from crying or showing a strong emotion by forcing it back down.
Usage tip
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.
Words that pair with "choke back"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
tears sobs emotions anger laughter rage
How to conjugate "choke back"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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
Hear "choke back" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "choke back" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "choke back"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.