biting down

Verb

bite down (third-person singular simple present bites down, present participle biting down, simple past bit down, past participle bitten down)

1. (intransitive) To bite (something) very hard and usually for a purpose (like to hold it in one's mouth).
   • Biting down on my wallet, I had two hands free to open the door.
2. (intransitive) To clench with one's teeth.
   • He bit down to force himself not to say anything.
3. (figuratively, transitive) To repress or bite back an (emotion, impulse or reaction).
   • She bit down on the urge to strike the woman who had wronged her.