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cementhead approach

cementhead approach

9.9
A way of doing things that is stubborn and refuses to change
  • noun
  • Informal
translation icon : enfoque obstinado
  • The team's progress was hindered by their manager's cementhead approach to every challenge.

Examples

  • His cementhead approach to negotiations made compromise impossible.

  • His cementhead approach to problem-solving frustrated the team.

  • Despite the advice of his colleagues, he stuck with a cementhead approach throughout the project.

  • Why do you always take a cementhead approach?

  • Despite numerous suggestions from his teammates, he continued with a cementhead approach that stifled progress.

  • Her cementhead approach during the meeting made it difficult for others to share their ideas.

  • The committee's cementhead approach towards changing the proposal led to a lack of innovation.

Synonyms

stubbornness
vscementhead approach
21 3.6

Refusing to change your mind or actions even when there are good reasons

is the same quality but presented as an attitude or method
pigheadedness
vscementhead approach
  • Informal
1 7.9

Refusing to change your mind even when you are wrong

is the same stubborn refusal but presented without crude or insulting tone
obduracy
vscementhead approach
1 9.9

Refusing to change your mind or plans even after seeing good reasons

is the same stubborn refusal but framed as an attitude or method
bullheadedness
vscementhead approach
1 8.3

Refusing to change ideas or plans even when it is not reasonable

is the attitude or method without stressing the unreasonable aspect
hardheadedness
vscementhead approach
1 7.6

A way of acting that refuses to change your mind because of feelings or others' views

is pure refusal to change rather than practical toughness
hammer-headed attitude
vscementhead approach
8.6

Not willing to change views or listen to others

is the method or approach version of that inflexible mindset

Antonyms

155 3.4

Able to change or be changed to fit different situations

35 3.9

Being willing to try or accept new ideas and experiences

Surface Forms

Morphology

cementhead + approach

Although 'cementhead' is nonstandard, it is transparently decomposable into 'cement' (something hard/rigid) + 'head' (person), so a learner who knows those constituents can infer an inflexible or stubborn manner of 'approach'. Because this relies on a metaphorical, creative coinage rather than a conventionalized phrase, the inference is possible but not fully predictable for all B1 learners without exposure.

Etymology

Cementhead approach may come from the image of a person's head filled with cement, hard and unable to change. So it means an attitude or method that is 'stubborn' or 'refuses to change'.