tongue-tied

[ tuhng-tahyd ]

adjective

1. unable to speak, as from shyness, embarrassment, or surprise.
2. affected with tongue-tie.

tongue-tied

adjective

1. speechless, esp with embarrassment or shyness
2. having a condition of tongue-tie

Word History and Origins

Origin of tongue-tied¹

First recorded in 1520–30; tongue + tie ( def ) + -ed ²( def )

Example Sentences

It is amazing how tongue-tied they get when you present them with irrefutable information.

From The Daily Beast

Fashion seems to leave some accomplished women tongue-tied or tripping over their own words.

From The Daily Beast

Questioned about how he selects or rejects his parts, though, Gosling can get a bit tongue tied.

From The Daily Beast

He lost track of his stump speech and was momentarily tongue-tied.

From The Daily Beast

In fact, the governor does not need much more than a ballot line from the aimless, tongue-tied, villain-rich GOP.

From The Daily Beast

At this impudent and barefaced falsehood, the agent was tongue-tied, but he turned to Hank.

From Project Gutenberg

She was unwilling to speak; she wanted to make Frederick understand what kind of person Mr. Thornton was—but she was tongue-tied.

From Project Gutenberg

For fear of getting tongue-tied again, I set right in, with a steady stream of talk.

From Project Gutenberg

He felt tongue-tied, more than usually awkward, terribly and shamefully nervous.

From Project Gutenberg

Even though I'd told the story three times that night, I found myself tongue-tied.

From Project Gutenberg