A frog in one's throat
Meaning
A feeling of hoarseness or a lump in one's throat that makes speaking difficult or causes a raspy voice.
Origin
The phrase emerged in the early 20th century, painting a vivid picture of a peculiar vocal affliction. Imagine the unsettling sensation of a foreign, croaking creature lodged uncomfortably in your windpipe, obstructing your voice and making it raspy or unclear. This colorful idiom captures precisely the feeling of a throat irritated or congested to the point where speech is reduced to a frog-like croak, transforming a common physical discomfort into a memorable and slightly humorous image of a literal amphibian intruder.
Examples
- The singer cleared his throat repeatedly before his performance, complaining he had a frog in his throat.
- After hours of cheering at the game, I definitely had a frog in my throat and could barely whisper.