tongue-tied
/ˈtʌŋ taɪd/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈtʌŋ taɪd/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈtəŋ-ˌtīd How to pronounce tongue-tied (audio)/ (ame, mw)
tongue-tied — 形容詞
1. so nervous or shy that you cannot find the words to say what you are thinking —
說不出話
因緊張或害羞而說不出話的
so nervous or shy that you cannot find the words to say what you are thinking — for example, when meeting someone you admire, or when you are suddenly asked to speak in public.
Tuan went tongue-tied when his boss asked him to speak at the conference.
老闆請 Tuan 在會議上發言時，他變得說不出話。
go + tongue-tied (linking verb + adjective pattern)
The teenager stood tongue-tied in front of the musician she had admired for years.
那位少年站在她仰慕多年的音樂家面前，緊張得說不出話。
stood + tongue-tied (position verb + adjective)
In class discussions, Selim often became tongue-tied and could only whisper his answers.
在課堂討論中，Selim 常常變得說不出話，只能低聲回答問題。
Tamar felt tongue-tied during the job interview and forgot to mention her leadership experience.
Tamar 在求職面試時緊張得說不出話，忘了提到自己的領導經驗。
After the surprise compliment, Ramón was tongue-tied for a moment before thanking her.
收到意外的讚美後，Ramón 愣了一下說不出話，過了一會兒才向她道謝。
- speechless
broader — can result from shock, surprise, or strong emotion, not only nervousness
- lost for words
idiomatic, especially common in British English; suggests a temporary inability to find the right thing to say
- mute
more literary or formal; can suggest a permanent state or a deliberate choice not to speak
- articulate
able to express thoughts clearly and fluently, the opposite of being blocked by nervousness
- talkative
describes someone who speaks readily and at length, the opposite of a person who cannot get words out
文法句型
be/become/go/feel + tongue-tied
用法筆記
Most often used after linking verbs such as 'go', 'become', 'feel', or 'stand'. Less common directly before a noun, though attributive uses (e.g. 'a tongue-tied silence') do occur in writing.