on\ the\ tip\ of\ one's\ tongue
- on\ the\ tip\ of\ one's\ tongue
• on the tip of one's tongue
• at the tip of one's tongue
adv. phr. informal
1. Almost spoken; at the point of being said.
It was at the tip of my tongue to tell him, when the phone rang.
John had a rude answer on the tip of his tongue, but he remembered his manners just in time.
2a. Almost remembered; at the point where one can almost say it but cannot because it is forgotten.
I have his name on the tip of my tongue.
2b. About to say something, such as a name, a telephone number, etc., but unable to remember it for the moment.
"His name is on the tip of my tongue," Tom said. "It will come to me in a minute."
Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань".
Оригинал: A.Маккей, М.Т.Боткер, Дж.И.Гейтс.
1997.
Look at other dictionaries:
on the tip of one's tongue — {adv. phr.} About to say something, such as a name, a telephone number, etc., but unable to remember it for the moment. * / His name is on the tip of my tongue, Tom said. It will come to me in a minute. / … Dictionary of American idioms
on the tip of one's tongue — {adv. phr.} About to say something, such as a name, a telephone number, etc., but unable to remember it for the moment. * / His name is on the tip of my tongue, Tom said. It will come to me in a minute. / … Dictionary of American idioms
at\ the\ tip\ of\ one's\ tongue — • on the tip of one s tongue • at the tip of one s tongue adv. phr. informal 1. Almost spoken; at the point of being said. It was at the tip of my tongue to tell him, when the phone rang. John had a rude answer on the tip of his tongue, but he… … Словарь американских идиом
on the tip of one's tongue — phrasal 1. : about to be uttered or blurted out 2. : just eluding recall had his name on the tip of my tongue but it s gone now * * * on the tip of one s tongue 1. Almost, but not (yet) quite, remembered 2. On the very point of being spoken • • • … Useful english dictionary
at the tip of one's tongue — or[on the tip of one s tongue] {adv. phr.} {informal} 1. Almost spoken; at the point of being said. * /It was at the tip of my tongue to tell him, when the phone rang./ * /John had a rude answer on the tip of his tongue, but he remembered his… … Dictionary of American idioms
at the tip of one's tongue — or[on the tip of one s tongue] {adv. phr.} {informal} 1. Almost spoken; at the point of being said. * /It was at the tip of my tongue to tell him, when the phone rang./ * /John had a rude answer on the tip of his tongue, but he remembered his… … Dictionary of American idioms
on the tip of one's tongue — ► on the tip of one s tongue almost but not quite spoken or coming to mind. Main Entry: ↑tip … English terms dictionary
on the tip of one's tongue — not quite able to remember something The name of his latest movie is on the tip of my tongue … Idioms and examples
on the tip of one's tongue — phrasal 1. about to be uttered < it was on the tip of my tongue to say exactly what I thought > 2. just eluding recall … New Collegiate Dictionary
on the tip of one's tongue — adjective known but not quite remembered Her name is on the tip of my tongue; it could be Kathy or Karen or something … Wiktionary
