mental block
- noun
- /ˈmɛn.təl blɑk/
- Once they start actively thinking about the simplest physical action, there's this insurmountable mental block.
- get over a mental block
Like it's a huge mental block for them to start budgeting.
- Like it's a huge mental block for them to start budgeting.
- There is like a mental block in my mind around capsule style pills that are any bigger than my probiotic that I take.
- But it comes as a mental block because OK, look at this way.
- It was just not my I had this mental block and so, you know, graduate, go get into NYU law.
Examples
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I've got some sort of mental block about going into pubs.
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I am going to list a few ideas on how to break through this mental block.
Blog text (16) -
And I think we have this mental block in thinking I need to get over this rather than get through it.
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But it comes as a mental block because OK, look at this way.
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I think the longer this has gone on, the worse my mental block has become.
Blog text (29) -
I think the trauma triggered a mental block.
Blog text (3) -
Like it's a huge mental block for them to start budgeting.
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This can be invaluable when teachers reach a "mental block" about a lesson objective... or are trying to expand their teaching into new areas.
Academic text (2001) -
I think I’ve developed a mental block.
Blog text (7) -
After weeks of studying, she still faced a mental block that prevented her from recalling the information during the exam.
Synonyms
A temporary inability to think or remember under pressure
A short moment when you forget something or get confused
A feeling of confusion that makes it hard to think clearly
Antonyms
How Severe
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derivable from the constituents: 'mental' (relating to the mind) combined with 'block' (an obstruction or inability) yields a cognitive/psychological obstruction. This noun–noun composition follows common, cross‑linguistic patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily infer the intended meaning.
Etymology
Mental block comes from the image of a heavy block in your mental space that stops ideas and memories from coming out. That's why it means 'a short time when you cannot think clearly or remember something'.