Almost remembered, almost but not quite brought to mind, unable to remember precisely

Etymology:

  • Daniel Defoe used this phrase for the first time in his novel “Moll Flanders” in the start of 18th century. By the middle of 19th century, the idiom was very popular among people. The words come first from your brain to the mouth then to the tip of the tongue. There are situations when you can’t remember something although you know it deep down. The feeling is that the words are stuck ‘on’ or ‘at’ the tip of the tongue.
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His name is on the tip of my tongue.

Submitted on February 25, 2019

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    "On the Tip of Your Tongue." Phrases.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 Nov. 2024. <https://www.phrases.com/phrase/on-the-tip-of-your-tongue_44904>.

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