to choke

Examples

• All

• I was up to bat and I choked.

  Wrapped (2019)

• Tell it to Tim Walz, whose brand seems to be choking in a crisis.

  Megyn Kelly

• Watch her and the others there choke when we ask serious questions.

  Blog text (27)

• And then I'll thank him when they choke in the fourth quarter like they always do.

  Higher Ground (2011)

• If I completely choke, I'll still be able to read the questions and make them answer.

  Fiction book (1995)

• I may choke in front of Shepherd, but Richard Reynolds I can handle.

  Fiction book (1995)

• It was yours for the taking and you choked.

  Cool Runnings (1993)

• Don't choke, got it?

  Just Go with It (2011)

• In sports jargon, an athlete is said to have "choked" when one error leads to a total collapse of acceptable performance.

  Academic text (1996)

• In the championship game, he felt so much pressure that he choked during his final free throw.

Synonyms

C

to choke under pressure

vsto choke

• Informal

2 7.0

Perform badly because of nervousness in an important situation

is a shorter more general expression with the same meaning

Antonyms

D

to do well

∞ 1.2

Be successful or have good results in something

T

to thrive

233 3.2

To grow well and be successful

Idioms

C

to choke a horse

• Informal

2 9.8

A very large amount of food that is more than one person can eat

C

to choke the chicken

• Offensive

1 9.9

To touch a man's penis to make him sexually excited

C

to choke on one's words

7.8

To stop speaking because you feel nervous, embarrassed, or upset

Phrasal Verbs

C

to choke on

91 3.4

To have trouble breathing because food gets stuck in the throat

C

to choke up

31 4.6

To feel so upset that you cannot speak

C

to choke out

12 7.4

Say something with great difficulty because you feel upset or nervous

C

to choke off

8 6.4

To stop a supply by blocking its source or flow

C

to choke back

5 7.0

Stop yourself from showing a feeling when you want to cry

C

to choke down

2 7.7

To stop yourself from showing strong feelings like sadness or anger

C

to choke up

2 5.8

To block a pipe or drain so water cannot pass through

C

to choke under pressure

• Informal

2 7.0

Perform badly because of nervousness in an important situation

C

to choke out a laugh

1 7.0

To manage a short laugh when you feel surprised or shocked

C

to choke under pressure

• Specialized

5.4

Stop working or work badly when there is too much demand

Compounds

C

choke hold

• NSFW

6 7.5

A tight arm around someone's neck from behind to stop them moving or make them pass out

C

choke-full

1 7.0

Filled so tightly that there is no space left

C

choke coil

• Specialized

1 7.7

A coil that lets direct current pass but reduces alternating current in a circuit

A

automatic choke

• Archaic

6.8

A device in a car engine that automatically reduces air so the engine starts easily when cold

How Badly

to collapse

645 3.9

to choke

• Informal

36 6.0

to falter

46 4.9

to stumble

83 3.0

to slip up

• Informal

44 4.1

Surface Forms

Etymology