tongue-tied
Americanadjective
-
speechless, esp with embarrassment or shyness
-
having a condition of tongue-tie
Etymology
Origin of tongue-tied
First recorded in 1520–30; tongue + tie ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Even when she became tongue-tied and had to laugh her way out of it, her slips became endearing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
Titled Shy, it describes how Rapp became tongue-tied around the British musician when they toured together in 2023.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2025
Heinicke, a 10-year NFL veteran, has spent the last three weeks learning the complex scheme that at first had him tongue-tied while calling out a play.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2024
Giamatti watchers may have a hard time imagining the actor tongue-tied.
From New York Times ● Jan. 7, 2024
You couldn’t be tongue-tied nor catch a case of lockjaw, or Tansy would give you an F. She was quick with her F’s.
From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
