Definition

1. Verb (phrasal verb):
   • To become too emotional to speak: To have one's voice catch in the throat due to strong emotion, preventing clear speech.
   • To block or clog completely: To cause a passage or space to become obstructed or filled.

Usage

• The primary meaning refers to an emotional reaction that impedes speech. It is often used in the passive voice ("to be/get choked up") or reflexively.
• The secondary, more literal meaning describes physical obstruction. This usage is less common for the phrasal verb itself.

Examples

• Emotional meaning:
  • She choked up while giving her retirement speech. (Her emotion made her voice falter.)
  • I always get choked up at the end of that movie. (I become too emotional to speak easily.)
• Literal meaning (obstruct):
  • Leaves choked up the drainpipe. (Leaves completely blocked the drainpipe.)

Advanced Usage

• "to choke something up": To fill or block a space.
  • Old paperwork was choking up the storage room. (Old paperwork was clogging the storage room.)
• Often used with "about" or "over" to specify the cause of emotion.
  • He choked up over the memories. (He became emotional because of the memories.)

Variants and Related Words

• Choke (verb): To have severe difficulty in breathing because of a constricted or obstructed throat; to block or clog a passage.
• Choked (adjective): (Of a voice) sounding tight because of emotion. (e.g., )
• Clog up (phrasal verb): To block or become blocked. A close synonym for the literal meaning.

Synonyms

• Become emotional: Get teary-eyed, get misty-eyed.
• Be unable to speak: Be lost for words, be overcome.
• Obstruct: Block, clog, jam.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Choke back: To suppress or hold back (tears, emotion, a reply).
  • He choked back his anger and remained calm.
• Choke off: To stop or suppress something, or to prevent growth.
  • The new regulations choked off innovation.
• Clam up: To suddenly become silent or refuse to talk, often due to shyness or nervousness (different from emotion).

Related Idioms

• Lump in one's throat: The physical feeling of tightness in the throat caused by emotion.
  • The tribute gave me a lump in my throat.
• Get something off one's chest: To confess something that has been worrying you. (This is about relief, not the impediment of speech caused by "choking up.")

Verb

1. obstruct
   • My nose is all stuffed
   • Her arteries are blocked