1. silent: not speaking

备注：''silent''常用于书面语中。

例：

Phil was silent for a moment as he thought about his reply. （菲尔在想该怎么回答，沉默了一下。）

remain silent

I wanted to say 'please don't go', but instead I remained silent, and she left. （我本想说“请别走”，但我却没说出口，她就走了。）

fall silent (=become silent)

The woman fell silent, though she kept darting angry glances at Jessica. （这个女人沉默下来，眼睛却狠狠瞪着杰西卡。）

2. be lost for words/be at a loss for words: to be unable to say anything because you are very surprised or because you are not prepared for the situation that has suddenly happened

例：

No matter what happens he never seems lost for words. （不论发生什么事，他总有话说。）

She stared at his letter, clearly at a loss for words. （她无言地看着他寄来的信。）

3. be struck dumb: to be suddenly unable to say anything because you are extremely surprised or shocked and cannot believe what has happened

例：

Amy was struck dumb. Was it possible that her own son had deceived her? （艾米惊得一句话都说不出来，自己的亲生儿子会骗自己吗？）

be struck dumb with

When he arrived at the scene of the disaster, he was struck dumb with horror and amazement. （他到达灾难现场时，震惊得说不出话来。）

4. clam up: to suddenly become unwilling to talk

备注：''clam up''常用于非正式的场合。

例：

He always clams up when I ask him about his job—do you think he's doing something illegal? （我一问到他工作的事，他就不说话了。你觉得他是不是在干什么犯法的事？）

The police took her in for questioning, but she clammed up when they asked about her boyfriend. （警察把她带走问话，但是一问到他男朋友的事，她就三缄其口。）

5. tongue-tied: unable or unwilling to say anything because you are nervous or embarrassed

例：

She became tongue-tied when she looked at the handsome man sitting beside her. （她看着坐在自己身边的帅哥，紧张得一句话都说不出来。）

Nervousness affects people in different ways. While some people become tongue-tied, others cannot stop talking. （人紧张时的表现因人而异。有的人不说话，而有的人则不停地说话。）

6. I don't know what to say: say this when someone gives you an unexpected present, or does something bad or shocking, and you cannot express how happy, angry etc. you feel

备注：''I don't know what to say''常用于口语中。

例：

You're so kind! I don't know what to say. （你真是太好了，我感动得不知道说什么好了。）

Well, I don't know what to say. It's absolutely disgraceful! （我都无语了！这种行为太无耻了！）

7. words fail me: say this when you are so shocked or angry that you cannot think of anything to say to express how you feel

备注：''words fail me''常用于口语中。

例：

Just look at this mess. Look at it. It's...Words fail me! （看看这脏的，看看这，简直……啊，我都无语了。）

8. bite your tongue: to not say anything even though you want very much to say what you think

例：

I had to bite my tongue to stop myself telling Neil exactly what I thought of his stupid plan. （我好不容易才控制住自己，没告诉尼尔我觉得他的计划简直愚蠢至极。）

She's so temperamental that even if you disagree with her it's better to bite your tongue and say nothing. （她很容易生气，所以就算你不同意她的做法，你也最好什么都不要说。）