fight back tears
phrase
variants
or less commonly fight back the tears
: to try very hard not to cry
He was fighting back tears as he announced his resignation.
Cite this Entry
“Fight back tears.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fight%20back%20tears. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
