frog-in-the-throat

A singer clears her frog-in-the-throat before going on stage.

Definition

1. Noun (idiomatic, informal):
   • A temporary hoarseness or difficulty in speaking clearly, as if something is obstructing the throat.
   • Etymology: The term "frog" here refers to a perceived lump or obstruction in the throat, not the amphibian. It is typically used to describe a condition where the voice becomes rough or weak, often due to a cold, nervousness, or overuse of the vocal cords.

Usage Examples

• (A temporary hoarseness caused by vocal strain.)
• (A feeling of obstruction affecting clear speech.)
• (A specific instance of hoarseness.)

Advanced Usage

• "to have a frog in one's throat": The most common form of this idiom, meaning to experience hoarseness or a muffled voice.

  • I have a frog in my throat today; I think I'm catching a cold. (A temporary voice problem due to illness.)

• "to clear one's throat of a frog": An informal expression meaning to cough or swallow to remove the perceived obstruction.

  • He drank water to clear the frog from his throat. (To alleviate the hoarseness.)

Variants and Related Words

• Frog (n): In this context, it is not a separate word but part of the idiom. However, "frog" alone can mean the amphibian, but here it is used metaphorically.
• Hoarseness (n): The quality of being rough or harsh in sound, often synonymous with the condition described by "frog-in-the-throat."
  • Her hoarseness was due to a frog in her throat. (The rough voice caused by the idiom.)

Synonyms

• Hoarseness: a rough or harsh voice quality.
  • The cold caused hoarseness in his voice. (Similar to frog-in-the-throat.)
• Raspiness: a grating, rough sound in speech.
  • Her raspiness was noticeable after the long talk. (A synonym for hoarseness.)

Related Idioms

• "to have a lump in one's throat": A feeling of tightness or emotion that makes speaking difficult, often due to sadness or nervousness.

  • When she heard the sad news, she had a lump in her throat. (Emotional obstruction, not physical hoarseness.)

• "to lose one's voice": To become unable to speak, usually temporarily due to illness or strain.

  • He lost his voice after cheering at the game. (More severe than a frog in the throat.)

Phrasal Verbs

• Clear up (intransitive): To resolve or disappear, often used for a frog in the throat.

  • The frog in my throat cleared up after I drank some tea. (The hoarseness went away.)

• Cough out (transitive): To expel something from the throat by coughing, sometimes used metaphorically.

  • He coughed out the frog in his throat. (To remove the obstruction by coughing.)