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Sometimes, when I get emotional. I get in a situation when only talking can lead in a burst of tears, so I try to prevent it and I feel like crying is on hold inside my throat.

Is there an expression in English that sums it up? or a sentence that describes it well?

I hope I could define well the situation. Thank you.

Aymane Shuichi
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    We refer to "a lump in the throat". https://books.google.com/books?id=PDHCFSRmjSMC&pg=PA855&lpg=PA855&dq=a+lump+in+the+throat+idiom&source=bl&ots=6rwOmGc_4V&sig=QO6H5JYyxQASqHjby4uBYNbiOv0&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CHEQ6AEwDGoVChMIkIiXrsyjyAIVAageCh3d2w6N#v=onepage&q=a%20lump%20in%20the%20throat%20idiom&f=false – TimR Oct 02 '15 at 10:36
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    Thank you Tim. But I really don't want to use the word lump – Aymane Shuichi Oct 02 '15 at 10:51
  • As you can see, there are some good suggestions. Please can you give a sample sentence to show how you would like to use the expression. If you do that and leave a blank space where you want the expression to go, it will help us to find the best answer. Thanks. – chasly - supports Monica Oct 02 '15 at 10:53
  • One of the suggestions answered my needs. Thanks everybody. – Aymane Shuichi Oct 02 '15 at 10:53
  • What's wrong with lump? – Mitch Oct 02 '15 at 13:08
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    @Mitch, I know right ? but my friend got a testicle cancer and all he was talking about was a lump until he did the proper diagnosis. He's ok now, but it's a bad memory for me as it reminds me of cancer. – Aymane Shuichi Oct 02 '15 at 13:52
  • Ayman: Oh. shifts uncomfortably – Mitch Oct 02 '15 at 14:06

6 Answers6

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choke back tears. MacMillian also suggests, choke down.

Ms Ross choked back tears as she described what had happened.

Mari-Lou A
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Fight back your tears

fight back: to struggle to repress

She tried to fight back her tears
The Free Dictionary

Blink back your tears

blink back one's tears (fig): to try to keep from crying

She blinked back her tears and went on
The Free Dictionary

Get a grip!

get a grip (on yourself): (spoken) control your emotions.

Oh, get a grip, Tess! It's really not as hard as you think
Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms

Mari-Lou A
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Elian
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"Pull yourself together!" is a common instruction to someone in such distress. However it's not a very sensitive thing to say to someone in a vulnerable emotional state!

Or "I pulled myself together and carried on with my work".

Choking back the tears is good, dealing with the crying itself, but this addresses moving on with life or dealing with the negative situation as well.

user_1818839
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    In the same vein as pull yourself together is the phrase suck it up. I stubbed my toe, and although it hurt terribly, I had to suck it up and feed my gremlin. – Dan Oct 02 '15 at 16:23
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    "Suck it up" is good too, but it's one I've heard more in America. – user_1818839 Oct 02 '15 at 16:57
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To stifle your tears/quell your emotions?

  • "It was inappropriate to cry, so I stifled my tears and brought my chin up."
  • "I try to quell these emotions of frustration, but sometimes they get the better of me"
Vix
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    Why is either option a good option? – Matt E. Эллен Oct 02 '15 at 18:36
  • Neither is a 'good option', they both have negative connotations, but they describe the effort behind holding back the tears. Stifle means to smother/restrain the tears, quell is to silence an uprising of emotion. – Vix Oct 04 '15 at 12:09
  • In what contexts are they appropriate? What about them make them more suitable than "try to stop crying"? – Matt E. Эллен Oct 05 '15 at 11:00
  • The question doesn't say that these are to be used in a compassionate sense when talking to someone else. It would be perfectly fine to describe "so I try to prevent it and I feel like crying is on hold inside my throat" as OP attempting to stifle their tears. – Vix Oct 05 '15 at 11:04
  • There, edited to provide more context. – Vix Oct 05 '15 at 11:16
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Agreed that 'choking back tears' sounds very applicable to what you want. Just to add to the inquiry I think variations of 'maintaining composure' also works. One can 'regain composure' after experiencing something emotional that caused one to 'lose composure'. One can 'maintain composure' while relating an emotional situation or event.

Drew
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Aymane, when-ever I feel like that, I would describe it as 'feeling really up-tight' Owen

I usually manage to deal with it by pausing in what I might be saying, glance away and saying to myself 'Be Strong, Be Strong' then shortly I'm able to proceed with what I'm wanting to say. Perhaps this might help, Owen

Owen
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    Welcome to English Language stack exchange. Given that this is an English Language site, it's to be expected that the OP is not looking for emotional support or how to deal with the crying, but rather looking for help with finding an appropriate expression to describe it. – Level River St Oct 03 '15 at 01:57