throat clearing

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   The act or sound of forcing air through the throat to remove mucus or to signal that you are about to speak or to get attention.

   Grammar: Usually uncountable: there was some throat clearing.

   Patterns

   • a bit of throat clearing
   • throat clearing from someone

   There was some nervous throat clearing before he began the speech.

   Her loud throat clearing made the whole class turn around.

   Constant throat clearing can irritate the voice box.

2. 2noununcountablefigurativedisapproving

   Unnecessary opening remarks or preparation in a speech or piece of writing before the speaker reaches the main point.

   Grammar: Uncountable and often disapproving: skip the throat clearing.

   Patterns

   • skip the throat clearing
   • cut the throat clearing

   The first page of the report is all throat clearing, so I skipped it.

   Good editors cut the throat clearing and start with the main idea.

   He gave a long speech full of throat clearing before announcing anything.

Common combinations

nervous throat clearing

Nervous throat clearing filled the quiet room.

loud throat clearing

A loud throat clearing interrupted the meeting.

skip the throat clearing

Skip the throat clearing and tell us the result.

cut the throat clearing

The editor cut the throat clearing from my essay.

a bit of throat clearing

After a bit of throat clearing, she asked for a raise.

Synonyms and how they differ

preamble

A preamble is a formal introduction, while throat clearing suggests the introduction is unnecessary and delaying.

preliminaries

Preliminaries are neutral first steps, whereas throat clearing implies wasted time before the point.

waffle

Waffle is long vague talk anywhere in a speech, while throat clearing refers specifically to an unneeded opening.

coughing

Coughing is a stronger, more forceful reflex, while throat clearing is lighter and often deliberate.

Word family

clear verb

to remove something blocking, as in clear your throat

throat noun

the passage at the back of the mouth

clear your throat phrase

to make a small cough before speaking

Commonly confused: throat clearing or coughing?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “throat clearing”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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