freezing up
Becoming suddenly immobile
Freezing up is becoming paralyzed or unable to act, especially under pressure.
A performer freezes up with stage fright; a student freezes up during an exam.
The phrase evokes the physical stiffening of something frozen solid: I knew the answer but completely froze up when called on.
Mechanical systems also freeze up when components seize or lock.
- stage frightFear of performing publicly
- deer in headlightsParalyzed by sudden shock
- mental blockInability to retrieve thoughts
- drawing a blankUnable to remember
- frostThin ice coating
chill · hesitation · cold · block · seizing up · system crash · stuck · halt · anxiety · numb · performance anxiety · panic · indecision · panic attack · fight or flight · choke · stiffen · stalling
- awkward momentsoops, cringe, embarrassment, yikes, awkward
- body responsesfight, flight, shivering, goosebumps, fawn
- performance anxietystage fright, choking, jitters, nerves, public speaking fear
- public speaking fearsstage fright, shaky voice, stumbling, stuttering, dry mouth
- speechlessspeechless, mute, wordless, tongue-tied, dumbstruck
- anxiety signspanic, nervousness, worry, worrying, trembling
freezing upkeeping cool
rising to the occasion · flowing · grace under pressure · clutch performance · going with the flow
freezing upflowing freely
firing on all cylinders · thawing out · loosening up · freeing up · unfreezing
freeze, frozen, freezing, freezer, froze, freezes, refreeze, freezable