- Home
- Idioms
- lump
lump
have a lump in (one's) throat
To have difficulty speaking as a result of feeling that one is about to cry due to an intense emotional response to something. Though I was excited for my daughter to start her college experience, I still had a lump in my throat saying goodbye to her at the airport.
get a lump in (one's) throat
To have difficulty speaking as a result of feeling that one is about to cry due to an intense emotional response to something. Though I was excited for my daughter to start her college experience, I still got a lump in my throat saying goodbye to her at the airport.
lump in (one's) throat
A feeling that one is unable to speak due to sadness, anxiety, or another strong emotion. I had a lump in my throat as I watched the casket of the fallen soldier return home. When Bob stood up to thank everyone at his retirement party, he got a lump in his throat and just had to nod and smile as he teared up.
get one's lumps
Inf. to get the result or punishment one deserves. (See also
take one's lumps.)
If she keeps acting that way, she'll get her lumps. We will see that Dave gets his lumps. If you don't like it, (you can) lump it.
Prov. Things cannot be changed to suit your preferences. We're having fish for dinner tonight. And if you don't like it, you can lump it. We're going to go visit Aunt Sally this weekend. If you don't like it, lump it.
Like it or lump it!
Inf. There is no other choice. Take that or none. John: I don't like this room. It's too small. Bill: Like it or lump it. That's all we've got. Jane: I don't want to be talked to like that. Sue: Well, like it or lump it! That's the way we talk around here.
*lump in one's throat
the feeling of something in one's throat -- as if one were going to cry. (*Typically: get ~; have ~; give one ~.) Whenever they play the national anthem, I get a lump in my throat. I have a lump in my throat because I'm frightened.
Lump it!
Inf. Forget it!; Go away! Well, you can just lump it! Lump it! Drop dead!
lump someone and someone else together
and lump something and something else togetherto classify people or things as members of the same category. You just can't lump Bill and Ted together. They are totally different kinds of people. I tend to lump apples and oranges together.
take one's lumps
Inf. to accept the result or punishment one deserves. (See also
get one's lumps.)
You've got to learn to take your lumps if you're going to be in politics. I hate taking my lumps. I'd rather pretend nothing had happened. a lump in your throat
a strong feeling of emotion that makes speaking difficult He still couldn't watch the video without getting a lump in his throat, and he wasn't the only one.
take your lumps
to experience and accept difficulties as part of doing something When unemployment increased, the Midwest took its lumps earlier than the East, but recovered faster.
Etymology: based on the idea of a fighter being able to take lumps (accept swelling in parts of the body)
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.
like it or lump it
(informal) if you tell someone to like it or lump it, you mean they must accept a situation they do not like, because they cannot change it The fact remains, that's all we're going to pay him and he can like it or lump it. Like it or lump it, romantic fiction is read regularly by thousands.
See be of like mindtake your lumps
(American) to receive and accept criticism or punishment for something you have done Joe blames nobody but himself for his problems. He takes his lumps and doesn't complain.
like it or lump it
Also,
if you don't like it you can lump it. Whether or not you want to, as in
Like it or lump it, we're staying home this summer. The origin of
lump in this idiom is unclear; one writer believes it to be a euphemism for
stuff it, a not unreasonable conjecture. [Early 1800s]
lump in one's throat
A feeling of constriction in the throat caused by emotion, as in The bride's mother had a lump in her throat. This expression likens the sense of a physical swelling to the tight sensation caused by strong feelings. [Mid-1800s]
lump together
v. To put people or things in the same group or category indiscriminately: The teacher lumped the puzzles and the books together in the toy box. Those students are friends, but I wouldn't lump them together in the same clique.
lump with
v. To put someone or something in the same group or category as some other person or thing: My roommates lumped their CD collection with mine. The uniforms from the visiting team got lumped with ours after the game.
get one’s lumps
tv. to get the result or punishment one deserves. (see also
take one’s lumps.)
If she keeps acting that way, she’ll get her lumps. Like it or lump it!
exclam. Give up!; Shut up!; Accept it or go away! (see also
Lump it!.)
If you don’t want to do it my way, like it or lump it! lump
n. a stupid clod of a person. I am not a lump! I am just sedate and pensive.
Lump it!
take one’s lumps
tv. to accept the result or punishment one deserves. (see also
get one’s lumps.)
You’ve got to learn to take your lumps if you’re going to be in politics. lump in (one's) throat
A feeling of constriction in the throat caused by emotion.