freeze up

1 of 1verb

/ˈfriːz ʌp/

Forms:freezes up,freezing up,froze up,frozen up

to become solid or immobile due to cold temperatures, often leading to a lack of functionality

The car's engine froze up in the bitter winter cold, and it wouldn't start.
The pipes in the house froze up during the deep freeze, causing a plumbing disaster.
His fingers froze up from the intense cold, making it difficult to grip anything.
The garden hose froze up overnight, making it impossible to water the plants until it thawed.
In regions with harsh winters, door locks can sometimes freeze up, making it challenging to enter or exit buildings.

to become mentally immobilized or unable to function effectively due to fear, anxiety, or nervousness

She froze up when she had to speak in front of the large audience.
In the face of danger, he froze up and couldn't react.
During the job interview, he froze up and struggled to answer the simplest questions.
When faced with a sudden emergency, some people tend to freeze up, while others take action.
She tends to freeze up in social situations, making it challenging to start conversations.

to stop functioning due to issues such as technical glitches or mental blocks

The computer screen froze up, and it had to be restarted.
When the exam began, her mind froze up, and she couldn't recall the answers.
As he approached the stage, his voice froze up, and he couldn't deliver his speech.
In the middle of the critical business meeting, the projector froze up, causing an awkward pause.