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."
separable
choke down
B2 informal separable transitive
To swallow something with great difficulty, usually because it is disgusting, unpleasant, or hard to accept.
In plain English
To force yourself to eat or drink something that tastes horrible or that you really don't want to swallow.
What does "choke down" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
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."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To choke while forcing something down the throat — transparent and visceral.
Actually means
To force yourself to eat or drink something that tastes horrible or that you really don't want to swallow.
Usage tip
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.
Words that pair with "choke down"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
food medicine pride anger reply meal
How to conjugate "choke down"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
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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