Example 1:
Sam: How did you do on
your biology test this morning?
Todd: Oh man, I
totally choked. I couldn’t remember any of the information I studied last
night. I can’t believe it.
Sam: Really? That’s too bad.
Example 2:
Chrissy: I have my
first piano recital this Friday night. I’m getting so nervous.
Jane: Don’t
worry. You’ll do fine. You practice a lot, right?
Chrissy: Yeah, I’ve
been practicing for hours everyday, but I’m afraid I’ll get really scared when
I see the audience. What if I choke and mess up the whole piece of music?
Jane: Try to
calm down. You’ll be ok.
Meaning: To choke is
an idiom that is used to describe someone who totally fails at a moment when
they are expected or hoping to perform well.