Looking for a word for a special feeling!

Question

I'm looking for a word to describe the tense feeling people have before they cry.You know, you feel sth is pressing against your throat. It's gone when you cry.What is the word for that feeling?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

I think you're looking for the expression "to have a lump in (your) throat".

CJ

L3lack_light · Answer

I don't think so CalifJim.
That lump may also be caused by disease or anything. What i'm talking about happens when your heart is filled with sorrow and you're about to cry. It is just caused by sadness.

CalifJim · Answer

l3lack_lightWhat ~~i'm~~ I'm talking about happens when your heart is filled with sorrow and you're about to cry. It is just caused by sadness.

That's what I'm talking about too.

Here's a random sample collected from Google:

The speech was so touching that I had a lump in my throat.
Whenever they play the national anthem, I get a lump in my throat.
I didn't cry, but I did have a lump in my throat.
Have you seen the movie "The Notebook"? It is very good but it is sad. I had a lump in my throat by the time it was over.
I got a lump in my throat as I listened to the tragic story of the woman's life.
Seeing him step out of the plane and down the gangway gave me such a lump in my throat that when we finally met I was quite unable to speak.
I read the last several pages of Anne Frank's diary with a lump in my throat.
The final scene of Romeo and Juliet always brings a lump to my throat.
I feel a lump in my throat and my eyes well up with tears.
I would trade my entire music collection for a 10 second scrap from The Journeymen. Their harmonies give me a lump in my throat and bring tears to my eyes.
My sister got a lump in her throat when she watched her daughter's graduation.
Tears came to my eyes and a big lump to my throat.
Every time I see that scene I feel a lump in my throat.
____________

See http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/bring+a+lump+to+throat

bring a lump to your throat
If something someone says or does brings a lump to your throat, it makes you feel such strong emotions that you want to cry. I thought it was a very moving speech. It almost brought a lump to my throat.

CJ

Khoff · Answer

"Having a lump in your throat" would be my first response as well. It's probably more often used for the feeling you describe than for an actual physical lump.

You could also say "I was all choked up."

Hrsanei · Answer

I think choke out is the word not choke up.

His heart hammered as he choked out the words

L3lack_light · Answer

Have a lump in your throat.
So that's it. Thanks a lot!

CalifJim · Answer

hrsaneiI think choke out is the word not choke up.
His heart hammered as he choked out the words

No. These are two different expressions -- two different parts of speech.

to choke out (words) -- (transitive verb) to say (something) with difficulty
choked up -- (adjective) overcome by emotion

CJ

Hrsanei · Answer

I didn't know that.

Thanks Jim.

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