student asking question

What does "tongue-tied" mean?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

Tongue-tied is an idiom and means to be unable or unwilling to speak properly because you are feeling shy or because you are flustered or embarrassed. Someone who is tongue-tied may stutter or be unable to think of the proper words to say. Ex: I get tongue-tied whenever I have to present or discuss my work. Ex: Do you sometimes get tongue-tied?

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