stick in somebody’s throat
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishstick in somebody’s throatstick in somebody’s throatif words stick in your throat, you are unable to say them because you are afraid or upset → stickExamples from the Corpusstick in somebody’s throat• When the time came to say "I do, " the words stuck in my throat.• Swallow, something sticking in my throat.• The breath was stuck in her throat and her mouth felt dry.• It stuck in my throat and I had to cough and cough to dislodge it.