tongue-tied; keep one's mouth shut; speechless
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesidiom
to keep one's mouth shut; to hold one's tongue; to be tongue-tied; speechless (from fear, pressure, or shock)
formalA formal idiom often used to describe someone who remains silent due to intimidation, guilt, or overwhelming circumstances. Can carry a negative connotation of being silenced or cowed into submission.
Miàn面
duì对
qiáng强
quán权
，
xǔ许
duō多
rén人
xuǎn选
zé择
qián钳
kǒu口
jié结
shé舌
。
Faced with power, many people choose to keep their mouths shut.
Tā他
zài在
lǎo老
bǎn板
miàn面
qián前
qián钳
kǒu口
jié结
shé舌
，
bù不
gǎn敢
shuō说
chū出
zhēn真
xiàng相
。
He was tongue-tied in front of his boss, not daring to speak the truth.
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Píng平
shí时
néng能
yán言
shàn善
biàn辩
de的
tā他
，
cǐ此
kè刻
què却
qián钳
kǒu口
jié结
shé舌
。
He who is usually eloquent is now at a loss for words.
Miàn面
duì对
tiě铁
zhèng证
，
xián嫌
yí疑
rén人
qián钳
kǒu口
jié结
shé舌
，
wú无
fǎ法
biàn辩
bó驳
。
Confronted with irrefutable evidence, the suspect was speechless and unable to argue.