English in a Minute: Tip of Your Tongue

Welcome to English in a Minute.

Your tongue helps you swallow and speak. So, what happens if something is on the “tip of your tongue”?

D: Hey Anna, what’s the name of the new intern? I can’t remember.
A: Oh, you mean … Oh, what’s her name? It starts with a P. No, R! Rrrr … Robin? Rrrr ... It's on the “tip of my tongue”! Rrrr… Rachel? Rrrr…
D: It’s OK. I’ll go ask Ashley.
A: Patience, Dan. Oh, Diane!

When something is on the “tip of your tongue”, you are trying to remember a name or word but can’t quite think of it. We say it’s on the “tip of your tongue” because you are really close to remembering it — as if it’s about to come of your mouth.