tongue-twister
|tongue-twist-er|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˈtʌŋˌtwɪstər/
🇬🇧
/ˈtʌŋˌtwɪstə/
difficult phrase
Etymology
Etymology Information
'tongue-twister' originates from English, combining 'tongue' meaning 'the muscular organ in the mouth' and 'twister' meaning 'something that twists or turns'.
Historical Evolution
'tongue-twister' was coined in the 19th century as a playful term for phrases that are difficult to pronounce.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred to any difficult-to-pronounce phrase, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a phrase or sentence that is difficult to articulate clearly, often because of a sequence of similar sounds.
She practiced the tongue-twister until she could say it perfectly.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/02/06 03:14