bite one's tongue

Verb

 * 1)  To resist the urge to speak out, especially in order to avoid saying something inappropriate or likely to cause a dispute.

Usage notes

 * Often used in the, to admonish someone who has said something unfeeling or harsh:

Translations

 * Chinese:
 * Mandarin:
 * Finnish: pitää suu kiinni, pitää turpa tukossa
 * German:
 * Greek: δαγκώνω τη γλώσσα μου
 * Italian: mordersi la lingua
 * Maori: whakatōngā
 * Mongolian: амаа татах
 * Norwegian: hvis du ikke har noe hyggelig å si, si ingen ting
 * Polish: gryźć się w język,
 * Russian:, придержа́ть язы́к