What Does โBlink sth backโ Mean?
โBlink sth backโ means to quickly stop yourself from showing an emotion, usually tears or sadness, by blinking your eyes hard to keep them from falling.
Introduction
The phrase โblink sth backโ is commonly used to describe the act of holding back tears or strong emotions by blinking rapidly. It often happens when someone feels sad, upset, or overwhelmed but tries not to cry in front of others. Understanding the โblink sth back meaningโ helps learners recognize emotional restraint in conversations or writing. This phrasal verb is informal and often appears in everyday speech, books, and films to show emotional control. Using this phrase correctly can make your English sound more natural and expressive.
Quick Info Box
- Phrasal verb: blink something back
- Type: transitive
- Level: B2 (Upper-Intermediate)
- Short meaning: to stop tears or strong emotions by blinking hard
Structure (Grammar Rules)
โBlink sth backโ is a separable phrasal verb. The object (something) can come between โblinkโ and โbackโ or after โback.โ
- blink tears back
- blink back tears
Both forms are correct, but โblink back tearsโ is more common. The verb is transitive, so it always requires an object, usually a noun referring to emotions or tears.
How to Use โBlink sth backโ?
Use โblink sth backโ when describing a moment where someone is trying not to cry or show sadness. It is often followed by words like tears, sobs, or emotions. This phrase adds emotional depth to your sentences and shows control or restraint.
For example, when someone receives bad news but tries to stay strong, you might say, โShe blinked back her tears during the meeting.โ
Examples
- He blinked back his tears when he heard the sad story.
- She blinked back the sobs to avoid crying in front of her friends.
- They blinked back their emotions to stay professional during the interview.
- Despite the pain, he blinked back the tears and smiled.
- Blink back your tears if you want to finish the speech without stopping.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: She blinked back tears quickly. (awkward adverb placement)
- Correct: She blinked back her tears quickly.
- Incorrect: He blinked tears back without object.
- Correct: He blinked back tears.
- Incorrect: Blink back crying.
- Correct: Blink back tears or blink back sobs.
Differences / Synonyms
Similar phrases include โhold back tearsโ and โfight back tears.โ
- Hold back tears: A more general phrase meaning to stop yourself from crying. It can be used in formal and informal contexts.
- Fight back tears: Suggests a stronger effort or struggle to stop crying.
โBlink sth backโ emphasizes the physical action of blinking to stop tears, while โhold backโ and โfight backโ focus more on emotional control.
Common Collocations
- blink back tears
- blink back sobs
- blink back emotions
- blink back feelings
- blink back a smile (rare, but possible for holding back a smile)
Related Phrasal Verbs
Here are related phrasal verbs of blink sth back:
Real-life Dialogue
Amy: Did you see Sarah at the meeting? She looked upset.
John: Yeah, she blinked back tears when the boss talked about the project delay.
Amy: Poor thing. I hope sheโs okay.
John: Me too. She was really trying to stay strong.
Practice
Fill in the blank with the correct phrase:
When he heard the bad news, he __________ his tears and continued speaking.
- a) blinked back
- b) blinked off
- c) blinked away
- d) blinked up
FAQs
- Q: Can โblink sth backโ be used for emotions other than tears?
A: Yes, it can refer to holding back any strong emotion, but it is most commonly used with tears. - Q: Is โblink sth backโ formal or informal?
A: It is informal and mostly used in casual conversations or storytelling. - Q: Can I say โblink back cryingโ?
A: No, use โblink back tearsโ or โblink back sobsโ instead. - Q: What is the difference between โblink back tearsโ and โhold back tearsโ?
A: โBlink back tearsโ highlights the physical action of blinking, while โhold back tearsโ is more about emotional control. - Q: Is โblink sth backโ separable?
A: Yes, you can say โblink tears backโ or โblink back tears.โ
