It's on the tip of my tongue | English Idioms for Memory | On Your Mark's English
- Mark Connolly
- Jan 15
- 2 min read
Have you ever been in a conversation, and you wanted to say a specific word...
and you knew the word... but you just couldn't remember it? 😫
It is so frustrating! You freeze, you panic, and the conversation stops.
Today, I want to teach you the perfect phrase for this exact situation.
The Idiom: "It's on the tip of my tongue!" 👅
1. What does it mean?
This phrase describes that specific feeling when you almost remember something.
You aren't completely lost.
You can feel the shape of the word, maybe even the first letter, but you just can't say it out loud.
2. Why do we say it?
It is a very physical idiom.
Imagine the word is travelling up from your brain, into your mouth, and it is sitting right on the end (the tip) of your tongue... but it refuses to jump off!
3. When should you use it?
Use this when you forget a name, a movie title, or a specific noun.
Example: "What is that actor's name? You know, the one in Titanic... Argh, it's on the tip of my tongue!"
Pro Tip: Next time you get stuck speaking English, don't panic.
Instead of saying "Uhhh..." or staying silent, use this phrase.
It gives you time to think and sounds very natural!
Your Turn
Is there a specific English word that you always forget?
Tell me in the comments below!
🎯 Want to Improve Faster?
If you enjoy these lessons and want to improve your English more quickly, you can book 1-to-1 lessons with me through my website.
👉 Visit www.onyourmarksenglish.com to book a lesson.
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