English Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions 

Idioms Body:  Tongue
from: 'bite your tongue'   to:  'silver-tongued'

• bite your tongue
  • If you bite your tongue, you stop yourself from saying what you really think.
    "Sam decided to bite his tongue rather than get into an argument."
    
    
• get your tongue round something
  • If you are able to pronounce a difficult word or phrase, you can get your tongue round it.
    "She's from the village of Llanfairpwllgwyngyll. Try getting your tongue round that!"
    
    
• give the (rough) edge of your tongue
  • If you give the (rough) edge of your tongue, you scold someone severely or speak to them very aggressively or rudely.
    "My boss was so angry that I really got the rough edge of his tongue."
    
    
• hold your tongue
  • If you hold your tongue, you stay silent and say nothing.
    "The party was supposed to be a surprise, but unfortunately the little boy couldn't hold his tongue."
    
    
• keep a civil tongue
  • People who keep a civil tongue express themselves in polite terms.
    "Don't speak so rudely! You must learn to keep a civil tongue in all circumstances."
    
    
• (a) slip of the tongue
  • A slip of the tongue is a small spoken error or mistake.
    "Did I say 'blow down'? - Sorry, I meant 'slow down' - that was a slip of the tongue!"
    
    
• on the tip of your tongue
  • To say that a word or answer is on the tip of your tongue, means that you're sure you know it but have difficulty finding it.
    "What's that actor's name? I know it ... it's on the tip of my tongue!"
    
    
• tongue in cheek
  • If you describe a remark as 'tongue in cheek' you mean that it is not meant to be taken seriously; it is meant to be funny or ironic.
    "Peter's remark was taken more seriously than intended. It was supposed to be tongue in cheek."
    
    
• tongue-lashing
  • When you scold someone severely, you give them a tongue-lashing.
    "The teacher gave Jeremy a tongue-lashing when arrived late for school."
    
    
• tongue-tied
  • If you are tongue-tied, you have difficulty in expressing yourself because you are nervous or embarrassed.
    "At the start of the interview I was completely tongue-tied!"
    
    
• tongues are wagging / set tongues wagging
  • When tongues are wagging, people are beginning to spread gossip or rumours, often about someone's private life.
    "The photograph of the couple that appeared in a magazine really set tongues wagging."
    
    
• silver-tongued
  • A silver-tongued person is a smooth talker who speaks so convincingly that they manage to persuade others to do what they want.
    "A silver-tongued salesman persuaded my mother to buy a new washing machine although the one she had was fine!"