Idiom meaning, usage examples, facts

1. Chris knew the woman, but he couldn’t remember her name. It was on the tip of his tongue , but it just wouldn’t come.
2. Martha was trying to recall the name of the restaurant where they had eaten. It was on the tip of her tongue when someone interrupted her thoughts.

The expression is used when one is trying very hard to recall something such as a name, date, word, or fact and feels that he or she is just about to remember it. The expression suggests that the information is so close to being recalled that it is at the front of one’s mouth.