to prevent oneself from saying something · to suppress an emotion (e.g., laughter, anger, sadness)
Ever been in a situation where you REALLY wanted to say something snarky, or burst out laughing, but you absolutely couldn't? 🤐 That's when you 'bite your lip'! It's all about trying to hold back words or strong emotions to maintain composure.
💡 **Tip!** While it literally means to bite your lip, you can use it even if you don't actually bite your lip! 😉 It's usually a short-term, internal struggle. You might see someone 'biting their lip' if they're trying not to laugh during a serious meeting, or not to cry during a sad moment in public.
Your colleague tells a terrible joke in a formal meeting, and you want to laugh, but you know you shouldn't. Which English expression describes what you do? A. You make a fuss B. You bite your lip C. You speak your mind