Definition

1. Noun:
   • The front part of the neck: The area of the body in the front of the neck, containing passages for food and air.
   • The passage inside the neck: The tube-like structure (pharynx and larynx) that leads from the back of the mouth and nose to the esophagus and windpipe (trachea).
   • A narrow passage or opening resembling a neck: Any narrow passage, opening, or part of an object that is shaped like or functions as a throat.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • She had a sore throat and could not speak.
  • The water flowed down his throat.
  • He cleared his throat before beginning his speech.
  • The throat of the bottle was too narrow.

Advanced Usage

• "To have a frog in one's throat": To have a temporary hoarseness or difficulty in speaking, often needing to clear the throat.
  • Excuse me, I have a frog in my throat.
• "To be at each other's throats": To be arguing or fighting fiercely.
  • The two politicians were at each other's throats during the debate.
• "To force/ram something down someone's throat": To force someone to accept or listen to an idea or opinion.
  • He's always ramming his political views down everyone's throat.

Variants and Related Words

• Throaty (adj): Describing a deep, rough, or guttural sound, as if coming from the throat.
  • She spoke in a low, throaty whisper.
• Deep-throated (adj): Having a deep, resonant sound.
  • The deep-throated roar of the lion.

Synonyms

• Gullet: A less common term for the esophagus, the passage from the throat to the stomach.
• Pharynx: The medical/anatomical term for the part of the throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity.
• Windpipe: Informal term for the trachea, the air passage in the throat.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Phrases

• "To jump down someone's throat": To criticize or attack someone verbally in a sudden, angry way.
  • I only made a small mistake, and my boss jumped down my throat.
• "To stick in one's throat": To be difficult to say or accept; to cause a feeling of resentment.
  • The unfair accusation stuck in his throat.
  • The words of apology stuck in her throat.

Related Idioms

• "A lump in one's throat": A tight feeling in the throat caused by strong emotion, such as sadness or gratitude.
  • The moving speech gave me a lump in my throat.
• "To cut one's own throat": To do something that is harmful to one's own interests.
  • By arguing with his best client, he's cutting his own throat.

Noun

1. the part of an animal's body that corresponds to a person's throat
2. a passage resembling a throat in shape or function;
   • the throat of the vase
   • the throat of a chimney
3. an opening in the vamp of a shoe at the instep
4. the passage to the stomach and lungs; in the front part of the neck below the chin and above the collarbone