Japanese

ことばをのむ
Meaning: to swallow one's words; to stop oneself from speaking
Part of Speech: Verb, Idiom

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Verb inflections

Form Affirmative Negative
Present 言葉を飲む 言葉を飲まない
Polite 言葉を飲みます 言葉を飲みません
Past 言葉を飲んだ 言葉を飲まなかった
Polite + Past 言葉を飲みました 言葉を飲みませんでした
Te-form 言葉を飲んで 言葉を飲まなくて
Potential 言葉を飲める 言葉を飲めない
Passive 言葉を飲まれる 言葉を飲まれない
Causative 言葉を飲ませる 言葉を飲ませない
Causative + Passive 言葉を飲まされる 言葉を飲まされない
Imperative 言葉を飲め 言葉を飲むな

Example

上司の顔を見て、彼は言葉を飲んだ。
Seeing his boss's face, he swallowed his words.

Usage Notes

Used when someone suppresses a remark, complaint, or honest thought before saying it aloud.

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