hold one's tongue

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

At least this once, one could hold one's tongue.

From Time Magazine Archive

An attitude of positive urbanity toward life was not to be expected; it was doing one's duty to hold one's tongue and keep one's hands off one's own windpipe, and other people's.

From Roderick Hudson by James, Henry

But it seemed fatally easy to hold one's tongue.

From Under False Pretences A Novel by Sergeant, Adeline

Heaven! sir," said she—"Well, I must not speak, and yet it is certainly very hard to be obliged to hold one's tongue when one hears."—"

From History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Fielding, Henry

Anyway, one can't hold one's tongue when one has a feeling, a tangible feeling, that one might be a help if only....

From Crime and Punishment by Garnett, Constance