It's on the tip of my tongue

Phrase of the day

Discover a new phrase each day to use in your English! These are special phrases and sayings that English speakers use all the time, but you don't often see these phrases in English course books or other study material. Visit daily to learn some popular English phrases on a regular basis.

19 December 2025

We use this expression when we want to say a word and can't remember it but we can almost remember it.

Written: No

Spoken: Yes

Formal: No

Informal: Yes

Example 1

Can you remember the name of our teacher last week?

I think it begins with P. Oh, it's on the tip of my tongue.

Was it Pete?

Example 2

Whats the name of the condition where you can't remember things?