dam sth up
— phrasal verb with dam /dæm/ verb [T] (-mm-)Definition
› to build a dam across a river in order to store waterDitches, dams and tunnelsClosing and blocking › If you dam up your feelings, especially anger or sadness, you do not allow yourself to express or show your feelings in a healthy way.Controlling emotionsCalm and relaxedNot showing or feeling emotions
(Definition of dam sth up from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus
© Cambridge University Press)
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Synonyms and related words:
- bottle sth up phrasal verb
- breaking point noun
- choke sth back phrasal verb
- collected adjective (CONTROLLED)
- compose verb (BECOME CALM)
- composure noun
- emotional blackmail noun
- frustrated adjective
- give voice to sth idiom
- gulp sth back phrasal verb
- harden your heart idiom
- internalize verb
- play it cool idiom
- put on a brave face idiom
- repress verb
- repressed adjective
- repression noun
- self-possession noun
- smoulder verb (EMOTION)
- temperate adjective (BEHAVIOUR)
Topic:
Controlling emotions
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