# hold one's jaw

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/hold-ones-jaw
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

To refrain from talking, to hold one's tongue, to be quiet.

## Examples

- You should hold your jaw during the exam.
- The manager told the team to hold their jaw while the director explained the new policy.
- Despite his intense desire to challenge the speaker's false claims, he chose to hold his jaw to maintain the professional decorum of the meeting.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.