freeze up
Go suddenly rigid
To freeze up is to become paralyzed or unable to act, typically from fear, nervousness, or sudden pressure: I knew the answer but froze up when the teacher called on me.
The phrase extends the physical sense of freezing—becoming rigid and immobile.
Machinery or systems can also freeze up when they stop functioning, often from cold or mechanical failure.
Uncontrollable sudden fear
- paralysisLoss of muscle function
- stage frightFear of performing publicly
- chokeObstruct breathing or airflow
- blankWithout marks or content
speechless · deer in headlights · nervous · overwhelm · tense · block · hesitate · clam up
Sudden violent impact
- lockupTemporary detention facility
- hangSuspend from above
- stallEnclosed compartment or delay
- glitchMinor system fault
unresponsive · lag · stuck · jam · error · blue screen · spinning wheel · buffer
Become rigid from stress
- lock upSecure or imprison
- seize upSuddenly stop functioning
- rigidUnable to bend
- immobilizeStop all motion
cramp · spasm · brace · tighten · clench · petrify · muscle tension · contract
Develop a frozen layer
- icyFrozen or unfriendly
- winterYear's coldest quarter
- pipesCylindrical fluid carriers
- windshieldVehicle's front glass
lock · stuck · thaw · de-ice · condensation · crystallize · solidify · ice up
panic
Uncontrollable sudden fear
- paralysisLoss of muscle function
- stage frightFear of performing publicly
- chokeObstruct breathing or airflow
blank · speechless · deer in headlights · nervous · overwhelm · tense · block · hesitate · clam up · tongue-tied
crash
Sudden violent impact
glitch · unresponsive · lag · stuck · jam · error · blue screen · spinning wheel · buffer · timeout
tense up
Become rigid from stress
immobilize · cramp · spasm · brace · tighten · clench · petrify · muscle tension · contract · constrict
ice over
Develop a frozen layer
windshield · lock · stuck · thaw · de-ice · condensation · crystallize · solidify · ice up · frigid
- stage mishapsmissed cue, line flub, tripping, stumble, trip
- iceiceberg, ice sheet, ice cap, ice shelf, ice floe
- shock reactionsgasp, wide eyes, jaw drop, shocked face, open mouth
- Weather Idiomsunder the weather, when it rains it pours, come rain or shine, rain check, take a rain check
freeze upstay calm
Remain unruffled
keep one's cool · rise to the occasion · keep a cool head · spring into action · think on one's feet
freeze uploosen up
Become less tense
open up · speak freely · warm up · come out of one's shell · find one's voice
freeze, frozen, freezing, freezer, froze, freezes, unfreeze, freezers, antifreeze