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On the Tip of One’s Tongue

Idiom: On the Tip of One’s Tongue


Rory: Laurie! You
have to help me! Something’s really bothering me!

Laurie: Sure,
Rory. What’s going on?

Rory: Well, I was
listening to a song that I really like, but I can’t remember the name of the
singer! It’s on the tip of my tongue!

Laurie: Ok. Do
you remember the name of the song?

Rory: Ummmm…no.

Laurie: That’s
not helpful. Do you remember what the singer looks like?

Rory: Yeah. He
has long black dreadlocks. He’s a really good piano player as well as a singer.

Laurie: All
right, now we’re getting somewhere. What else can you tell me about him?

Rory: Um…he
always wears sunglasses.

Laurie: He always wears sunglasses? Why does he always wear sunglasses?

Rory: Oh, he
always wears them because he can’t see. He’s blind.

Laurie: Rory! Are
you thinking of Stevie Wonder?

Rory: Yes! That’s
it! Thank you so much! I feel better now!

Laurie: No
problem. I can’t believe you forgot Stevie Wonder’s name…

This is an expression that we use when we can remember what
something looks like, sounds like, etc. but we can’t remember the actual name
of the object or person. It is often used, for example, when we can remember someone’s
face, but we can’t remember their name. We can almost remember the name, but not quite, and it’s a very
frustrating feeling!

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