Have a frog in one's throat

Origin

Imagine the scratchy, croaking sound of a hoarse voice, combined with the uncomfortable sensation of something lodged deep in the throat. In medieval folklore, such an affliction wasn't just a cold; it was often attributed to something far more literal and unsettling. People believed that a cold, damp frog might have actually taken up residence in the sufferer's throat, causing the amphibian-like croak and the difficulty in speaking clearly. This vivid, if slightly grotesque, image became the enduring metaphor for a voice impaired by dryness or illness, transforming a common ailment into a memorable, if mythical, internal struggle.