choke

To be unable to breathe because something blocks your throat or irritates your breathing passages.

• The child began to choke.
• She choked on a fish bone.
• We were choking on smoke as we left the room.

How to use it: choke on something (He choked on a piece of bread.)

Common phrases: choke on something, choke on food, choke to death

To squeeze someone’s throat so they cannot breathe.

• He tried to choke her.
• The attacker choked him with both hands.
• She escaped before he could choke her again.

How to use it: choke someone with something (The attacker tried to choke him with a scarf.)

Similar words: strangle

Common phrases: choke someone, choke someone with

To stop someone from breathing or speaking by squeezing their throat or blocking their breathing passages.

• This tight collar is choking me.
• Dust choked the workers as they entered the room.
• The cloth over his mouth almost choked him.

How to use it: choke someone with something (The smoke choked us with thick clouds of ash.)

Similar words: suffocate, strangle

Common phrases: choke someone, choke someone with

To perform badly at an important moment in a competition because you are nervous or afraid.

• He choked in the final.
• The team was winning but choked near the end.
• Will she choke under pressure or win the title?

How to use it: choke under pressure (Even experienced players sometimes choke under pressure.)

Similar words: freeze, crack

Common phrases: choke under pressure, choke in something, choke at something

For a cave passage to become partly or completely blocked by rocks, mud, or other material.

• The passage began to choke with debris.
• After the collapse, the cave tunnel choked up.
• Narrow passages can choke with rocks carried by floodwater.

How to use it: choke with something (The cave passage had choked with mud.)

Similar words: become blocked, clog

Common phrases: choke with something, choke up

To hold a pencil, brush, or similar tool very close to its working end.

• Choke up on your pencil.
• She choked the brush to paint the tiny lines.
• For detailed drawing, try choking up near the tip.

How to use it: choke up on something (Choke up on the pencil for greater control.)

Common phrases: choke up, choke up on, choke a brush

A control that changes the air and fuel mixture to help a cold engine start.

• Pull the choke before starting the engine.
• She pushed the choke in once the engine warmed up.
• This old motorcycle has a manual choke.

Common phrases: manual choke, pull the choke, choke control

A hold in a fighting sport that presses someone’s neck and can stop their breathing.

• He escaped the choke.
• The referee stopped the match when she applied a choke.
• He tapped his opponent’s arm to signal surrender during the choke.

Similar words: stranglehold

Common phrases: choke hold, apply a choke, escape a choke