at\ the\ tip\ of\ one's\ tongue

at\ the\ tip\ of\ one's\ tongue
• on the tip of one's tongue
• at the tip of one's tongue
adv. phr. informal
1. Almost spoken; at the point of being said.

It was at the tip of my tongue to tell him, when the phone rang.

John had a rude answer on the tip of his tongue, but he remembered his manners just in time.

2a. Almost remembered; at the point where one can almost say it but cannot because it is forgotten.

I have his name on the tip of my tongue.

2b. About to say something, such as a name, a telephone number, etc., but unable to remember it for the moment.

"His name is on the tip of my tongue," Tom said. "It will come to me in a minute."


Словарь американских идиом. — СПб., Изд-во "Лань". . 1997.

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  • on the tip of one's tongue — {adv. phr.} About to say something, such as a name, a telephone number, etc., but unable to remember it for the moment. * / His name is on the tip of my tongue, Tom said. It will come to me in a minute. / …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • on the tip of one's tongue — {adv. phr.} About to say something, such as a name, a telephone number, etc., but unable to remember it for the moment. * / His name is on the tip of my tongue, Tom said. It will come to me in a minute. / …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • on\ the\ tip\ of\ one's\ tongue — • on the tip of one s tongue • at the tip of one s tongue adv. phr. informal 1. Almost spoken; at the point of being said. It was at the tip of my tongue to tell him, when the phone rang. John had a rude answer on the tip of his tongue, but he… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • on the tip of one's tongue — phrasal 1. : about to be uttered or blurted out 2. : just eluding recall had his name on the tip of my tongue but it s gone now * * * on the tip of one s tongue 1. Almost, but not (yet) quite, remembered 2. On the very point of being spoken • • • …   Useful english dictionary

  • at the tip of one's tongue — or[on the tip of one s tongue] {adv. phr.} {informal} 1. Almost spoken; at the point of being said. * /It was at the tip of my tongue to tell him, when the phone rang./ * /John had a rude answer on the tip of his tongue, but he remembered his… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • at the tip of one's tongue — or[on the tip of one s tongue] {adv. phr.} {informal} 1. Almost spoken; at the point of being said. * /It was at the tip of my tongue to tell him, when the phone rang./ * /John had a rude answer on the tip of his tongue, but he remembered his… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • on the tip of one's tongue — ► on the tip of one s tongue almost but not quite spoken or coming to mind. Main Entry: ↑tip …   English terms dictionary

  • on the tip of one's tongue — not quite able to remember something The name of his latest movie is on the tip of my tongue …   Idioms and examples

  • on the tip of one's tongue — phrasal 1. about to be uttered < it was on the tip of my tongue to say exactly what I thought > 2. just eluding recall …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • on the tip of one's tongue — adjective known but not quite remembered Her name is on the tip of my tongue; it could be Kathy or Karen or something …   Wiktionary

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