Antonyms for choke back
| Grammar : Verb |
| Spell : chohk |
| Phonetic Transcription : tʃoʊk |
Definition of choke back
Origin :- c.1300, transitive, "to strangle;" late 14c., "to make to suffocate," of persons as well as swallowed objects, a shortening of acheken (c.1200), from Old English aceocian "to choke, suffocate" (with intensive a-), probably from root of ceoke "jaw, cheek" (see cheek (n.)).
- Intransitive sense from c.1400. Meaning "gasp for breath" is from early 15c. Figurative use from c.1400, in early use often with reference to weeds stifling the growth of useful plants (a Biblical image). Meaning "to fail in the clutch" is attested by 1976, American English. Related: Choked; choking. Choke-cherry (1785) supposedly so called for its astringent qualities. Johnson also has choke-pear "Any aspersion or sarcasm, by which another person is put to silence." Choked up "overcome with emotion and unable to speak" is attested by 1896. The baseball batting sense is by 1907.
- As in restrain : verb keep under control; hold back
- As in stifle : verb prevent, restrain
- Again that frightful silence, then she was trying to choke back the sobs.
- Extract from : « Ainslee's, Vol. 15, No. 5, June 1905 » by Various
- "You were a fool," said David, trying to choke back his eagerness.
- Extract from : « The Courage of Marge O'Doone » by James Oliver Curwood
- After they had said it, they had difficulty to choke back their sobs.
- Extract from : « Christmas Outside of Eden » by Coningsby Dawson
- But the figure in the bed, without answer, buried itself face down in the covers, striving to choke back the sobs.
- Extract from : « The Salamander » by Owen Johnson
- "But somebody must go and fight, little sister," he said, as soon as he could choke back his tears.
- Extract from : « The Drummer Boy » by John Trowbridge
- Tears stood in their eyes, and more than one bold fellow had hard work to choke back a sob.
- Extract from : « Sea-Dogs All! » by Tom Bevan
- Grant, though in a fume of hot anger, had the good sense to choke back the first impetuous reprimand trembling on his lips.
- Extract from : « The Postmaster's Daughter » by Louis Tracy
- Fanny was determined to choke back that feeling of uneasiness which had worried her during the whole of that day.
- Extract from : « Betty Vivian » by L. T. Meade
- His sluggish mind wrestled, trying to choke back the incredible doubt.
- Extract from : « Infinite Intruder » by Alan Edward Nourse
- He seemed to feel himself highly honored, but Browning had hard work to choke back his absolute contempt for the fellow.
- Extract from : « Frank Merriwell at Yale » by Burt L. Standish
Synonyms for choke back
- arrest
- asphyxiate
- bind
- black out
- bottle up
- box up
- bridle
- bring to screeching halt
- burke
- chain
- check
- choke
- choke back
- circumscribe
- clam up
- clamp down
- confine
- constipate
- constrain
- contain
- control
- cool
- cork
- cover up
- crack down
- curb
- curtail
- debar
- delimit
- detain
- deter
- direct
- dry up
- extinguish
- fetter
- gag
- govern
- guide
- hamper
- handicap
- harness
- hem in
- hinder
- hogtie
- hold
- hold it down
- hush
- hush up
- impound
- imprison
- inhibit
- jail
- keep
- keep down
- keep in line
- kill
- limit
- lock up
- manacle
- muffle
- muzzle
- pinion
- prevent
- proscribe
- pull back
- put the lid on
- repress
- restrict
- shut up
- silence
- sit on
- smother
- spike
- squash
- squelch
- stagnate
- stay
- stop
- strangle
- stultify
- subdue
- suffocate
- suppress
- tie down
- tie up
- torpedo
- trammel
Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019