choke up: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Informal
Quick answer
What does “choke up” mean?
To become too emotional to speak properly.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To become too emotional to speak properly.
To become overwhelmed with emotion (typically sadness, nostalgia, or gratitude) to the point of having a constricted throat and being unable to speak clearly or at all; to fill or block something (informal, as in "the drain is choked up with leaves").
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. The blocking/obstructing sense ("the pipe is choked up") might be slightly more common in US informal use.
Connotations
Equally strong emotional connotation in both varieties. Can imply positive (touching) or negative (sad) emotion.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American media, particularly in sports commentary ("the pitcher choked up on the bat" is a different, technical phrase). The emotional sense is equally common in everyday speech.
Grammar
How to Use “choke up” in a Sentence
[Subject] chokes up (when/while/talking about [Object])[Subject] is/get choked up (about/over [Object])Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “choke up” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He always chokes up when he talks about his late father.
- I choked up a little during the film's final scene.
American English
- She choked up while giving her thank-you speech.
- The farewell video got me all choked up.
adverb
British English
- He spoke choked-uply, pausing to collect himself. (Rare/awkward)
- N/A
American English
- N/A
- N/A
adjective
British English
- He gave a choked-up apology to the fans.
- There was a choked-up silence in the room.
American English
- In a choked-up voice, she accepted the award.
- He sounded pretty choked up on the phone.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might be used in a personal anecdote during a farewell speech ("I'm getting a bit choked up talking about his retirement").
Academic
Very rare. Not used in formal academic writing.
Everyday
Common in personal narratives, reactions to films, weddings, funerals, touching moments.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “choke up”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “choke up”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “choke up”
- Using it to mean 'to vomit' (that's 'throw up').
- Using it without an emotional cause (e.g., "I choked up because of the smoke" is incorrect for the main meaning).
- Confusing it with 'choke' alone, which means to struggle to breathe.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Choke up' refers specifically to the tightening in the throat and difficulty speaking that often happens just before one cries. You can choke up without actually shedding tears.
Yes. It is commonly used for overwhelming positive emotions like pride, gratitude, or joy, especially during moments like weddings, award ceremonies, or touching surprises.
'Choke' primarily means to have severe difficulty breathing because something is blocking your airway. 'Choke up' is an emotional/physical reaction focused on the throat constricting, making speech difficult, with no implication of danger.
Yes, the past participle 'choked up' is frequently used adjectivally (e.g., "a choked-up voice," "I felt choked up").
To become too emotional to speak properly.
Choke up is usually informal in register.
Choke up: in British English it is pronounced /tʃəʊk ʌp/, and in American English it is pronounced /tʃoʊk ʌp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Choke up is itself an idiom. Related: "get a lump in one's throat."”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine your emotions are like water in a pipe. When you CHOKE UP, the valve (your throat) gets blocked by emotion, and the words can't get out.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMOTION IS A PHYSICAL OBSTRUCTION / THE THROAT IS A CONDUIT FOR SPEECH.
Practice
Quiz
In which situation would someone most likely 'choke up'?