tongue-tiedˈtongue-tied adjective 
Examples
When adults spoke to her, she became tongue-tied and shy.
ExamplesEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- He often sounds tongue-tied in interviews.
- Nervousness affects people in different ways. While some people become tongue-tied, others cannot stop talking.
- She became tongue-tied when she looked at the handsome man sitting beside her.
- Benny stumbled from time to time, and became tongue-tied when she looked at the handsome boy sitting beside them.
- Both of them were easy victims: where she was slow and tongue-tied, he was short and physically weedy.
- I had tried since, alone and with others, and I'd been tongue-tied.
- Outside the courtroom, Kevin is a tongue-tied lunkhead.
- She reeled off my 752 failings, whereas I was tongue-tied.
- She went to Druid's Bottom but she felt tongue-tied there.
- The boy was quieter than his sister, and gave tongue-tied answers.
- Whatever he might fling at her this time, she would not sit bowed and tongue-tied.
Longman Language Activatornot saying anything► silent
unable to talk in a relaxed way because you feel nervous or embarrassed: especially written not speaking: · Phil was silent for a moment as he thought about his reply.remain silent: · I wanted to say 'please don't go', but instead I remained silent, and she left.fall silent (=become silent): · The woman fell silent, though she kept darting angry glances at Jessica.
► be lost for words/be at a loss for words to be unable to say anything because you are very surprised or because you are not prepared for the situation that has suddenly happened: · No matter what happens he never seems lost for words.· She stared at his letter, clearly at a loss for words.
► be struck dumb to be suddenly unable to say anything because you are extremely surprised or shocked and cannot believe what has happened: · Amy was struck dumb. Was it possible that her own son had deceived her?be struck dumb with: · When he arrived at the scene of the disaster, he was struck dumb with horror and amazement.
► clam up informal to suddenly become unwilling to talk: · He always clams up when I ask him about his job -- do you think he's doing something illegal?· The police took her in for questioning, but she clammed up when they asked about her boyfriend.
► speechless unable to say anything because you are very angry, surprised, or upset: · Anna was speechless. She had never seen such luxury before.speechless with: · Laura stared at him, absolutely speechless with rage.leave/render somebody speechless (=make someone speechless): · His words dented her pride and left her speechless.
► tongue-tied unable or unwilling to say anything because you are nervous or embarrassed: · She became tongue-tied when she looked at the handsome man sitting beside her.· Nervousness affects people in different ways. While some people become tongue-tied, others cannot stop talking.
► I don't know what to say spoken say this when someone gives you an unexpected present, or does something bad or shocking, and you cannot express how happy, angry etc you feel: · You're so kind! I don't know what to say.· Well, I don't know what to say. It's absolutely disgraceful!
► words fail me spoken say this when you are so shocked or angry that you cannot think of anything to say to express how you feel: · Just look at this mess. Look at it. It's...Words fail me!
► bite your tongue to not say anything even though you want very much to say what you think: · I had to bite my tongue to stop myself telling Neil exactly what I thought of his stupid plan.· She's so temperamental that even if you disagree with her it's better to bite your tongue and say nothing.
When adults spoke to her, she became tongue-tied and shy.