bring a lump to someone's throat

English

Verb

bring a lump to someone's throat (third-person singular simple present brings a lump to someone's throat, present participle bringing a lump to someone's throat, simple past and past participle brought a lump to someone's throat)

1. (idiomatic) To engender a strong emotional reaction.
   • September 8 2022, Stephen Bates, “Queen Elizabeth II obituary”, in The Guardian‎^[1]:

     The highly political tone, intended to bind the empire together, delivered in the princess’s formal voice, it was said, brought a lump to millions of throats.

See also

• lump in one's throat