stick in somebody's throat BrE
stick in somebody's gullet BrE
stick in somebody's craw AmE

The words almost stuck in my throat, but I got them out.

He could not even say anything - the words stuck in his throat.

Or if I had they were stuck in my throat.

He tried to say something, but the words stuck in his throat.

A feeling that you have something stuck in your throat.

She would have expected the word to stick in her throat.

Good night, he tried to answer, but the words stuck in his throat.

The question almost stuck in her throat, but it had to be asked.

All the words she wanted to say to him stuck in her throat.

The words seemed to stick in her throat: she had to force them out.