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язык проглотил

Meaning: To be unable or unwilling to speak; to remain silent when words are called for.

Language: Russian

Literally: swallowed the tongue

Category: Body & Senses

Origin: The image pictures someone literally swallowing their tongue, rendering speech impossible.

More idioms — Body & Senses

  • до посинения — To do something with extreme effort or persistence, usually futilely.
  • на коленке — Done hastily and without proper tools or technique; improvised or makeshift.
  • Tomber dans les pommes — Suddenly losing consciousness — possibly derived from the older expression 'être dans les…
  • Avoir la moutarde qui monte au nez — To be getting angry.
  • Couper les cheveux en quatre — To over-analyze or split hairs.
  • Se regarder le nombril — To be self-centered or narcissistic.

More Russian idioms

  • метать бисер перед свиньями — To offer something precious or refined to someone incapable of appreciating it.
  • сушить сухари — To prepare oneself mentally and materially for imprisonment or arrest.
  • отбросить копыта — To die, to kick the bucket.
  • чепуха на постном масле — Complete and utter nonsense or rubbish.
  • пан или пропал — To risk everything on a single venture; all or nothing, sink or swim.
  • горе луковое — A person who is accident-prone, hapless, or bumbling; one who causes trouble by their own…

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