слова не идут с языка

• СЛОВА НЕ ИДУТ С ЯЗЫКА у кого{{}}

[VPsubj; pres or past; usu. this WO]

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⇒ s.o. is unable or lacks the resolve to say sth. (because he is embarrassed, nervous, afraid of unpleasant repercussions, afraid of upsetting the interlocutor etc):

- у X-a слова не идут с языка{{}}≈ X cannot bring himself to utter a word;

- X cannot get a word out of his mouth;

- X cannot get the words to come out;

- X is incapable of uttering a word;

- X is tongue-tied.

     ♦ Он [Обломов] припал к её руке лицом и замер. Слова не шли более с языка (Гончаров 1). Не [Oblomov] pressed his face to her hand and fell silent. He could not bring himself to utter another word (1a). He [Oblomov] pressed his face to her hand and fell silent, incapable of uttering another word (1b).