Bite one’s tongue

Refrain from speaking out. The expression dates from the 16th century. Shakespeare was fond of the expression and used it in three of his plays. Firstly, in Henry VI Part II, Act I, Scene I, “So York must sit and fret and bite his tongue”. Then in Henry VI Part III, Act I, Scene IV “And bite thy tongue, that slanders him with cowardice” and finally in Titus Andronicus Act III, Scene I “Or shall we bite our tongues, and in dumb shows Pass the remainder of our days?”