choke down

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

To swallow with difficulty.

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

I was already stuffed, but I managed to choke down some more apple pie anyway. It was so good that I couldn't stop.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “choke down” mean?

To swallow with difficulty.

Is “choke down” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.