When we tell someone to “hold your tongue“, we’re asking them to stay quiet or stop talking. It’s similar to saying “be quiet” or “don’t say anything”.
Here are two examples in sentences:
Example 1:
The teacher told the disruptive student to “hold your tongue” while she was giving instructions.
Example 2:
Jack knew that he had to “hold his tongue” during the meeting to avoid escalating the situation.
Now, let’s see two examples in a conversation:
Example 3:
Mike: I don’t agree with these new policies, and I want to…
Emma: Mike, hold your tongue. The management has made its decision.
Example 4:
Lisa: I’m so angry at John, I’m going to…
Sarah: Lisa, hold your tongue. It won’t help to say something you might regret later.
So, when you say, “hold your tongue,” you’re telling someone to stay silent or not to say anything, usually to prevent making a situation worse or to maintain respect or decorum in a particular setting.
