choke on

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

Meaning · English

To refuse to accept (something).

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

I told him what happened, but he choked on the truth.

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 on” mean?

To refuse to accept (something).

Is “choke on” formal or informal?

choke on is generally slang.