What does "choke on" mean (sense 1)?

To have one's airway partially or fully blocked by food, liquid, or another substance. Example: "Be careful not to eat too fast — he nearly choked on a fish bone at dinner."

What does "choke on" mean (sense 2)?

To be so shocked, offended, or outraged by something that one can barely respond. Example: "He nearly choked on the irony of a politician championing honesty after years of lying."

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choke on

B1 neutral transitive

To have difficulty breathing or speaking because something is blocking the airway, or to be unable to accept something offensive or shocking.

In plain English

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

What does "choke on" mean?

2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.

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."

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."

inseparable

Literal vs figurative

Words literally mean

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

Actually means

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

Usage tip

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.

Words that pair with "choke on"

Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.

food bone words smoke water irony

How to conjugate "choke on"

The five tense forms you'll use most often.

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

Hear "choke on" in the wild

Listen to native speakers using "choke on" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.

Other ways to say "choke on"

Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.

balk at be offended by gag on nearly choke struggle with

Keep exploring

Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.

All phrasal verbs with "choke" All phrasal verbs with "on" More B1-level phrasal verbs