lose your voice

Meaning

To become unable to speak clearly or loudly, usually due to a sore throat, a cold, or from shouting and singing excessively. This is a very common physical state after attending concerts, sports matches, or performing.

Examples

• I screamed so loud at the rock concert that I completely lost my voice.

  I screamed so loud at the rock concert that I completely lost my voice.

• The singer had to cancel the show because she lost her voice.

  The singer had to cancel the show because she lost her voice.

• Drink some warm tea with honey if you're starting to lose your voice.

  Drink some warm tea with honey if you're starting to lose your voice.

• He tried to give his speech, but he had lost his voice due to a cold.

  He tried to give his speech, but he had lost his voice due to a cold.

• Don't shout too much at the game, or you will lose your voice before tomorrow.

  Don't shout too much at the game, or you will lose your voice before tomorrow.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I lost my sound after the concert.

  ✓ I lost my voice after the concert.

  'Sound' is a generic noise. The specific human ability to speak or sing is called your 'voice'.

• ✗ I missed my voice yesterday.

  ✓ I lost my voice yesterday.

  'Miss' means to feel the absence of something you long for. To describe the physical inability to speak, use the verb 'lose'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If you keep cheering like that, you are going to ___.

  💡 Be unable to speak tomorrow.

  Show answer

  lose your voice

• It is easy to ___ if you scream on a roller coaster.

  💡 Damage your vocal cords temporarily from shouting.

  Show answer

  lose your voice