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.
Giamatti watchers may have a hard time imagining the actor tongue-tied.
From New York Times ● Jan. 7, 2024
Speech production is a complex neural phenomenon that has left researchers explaining it tongue-tied.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2023
“There wasn’t …” It was the first time I’d ever seen Harry tongue-tied.
From Slate ● May 27, 2023
In particular, he described Jack Straw as being "mystifyingly tongue-tied" in one key UK/US meeting and labelled him as a B-list politician who was "more to be liked than admired".
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2022
He stood tongue-tied, feeling his very existence an intrusion, while Zau directed Heqet to the farthest stall, and to the cupboard where he would find the stake.
From "The Golden Goblet" by Eloise Jarvis McGraw
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.
