brain freeze

[ breyn freez ]

noun

, Informal.

1. Also called ice cream head·ache [ahys, kreem , hed, -eyk]. a pain in the temples and forehead brought on by quickly consuming very cold food or drink.
2. a temporary lapse in memory; a sudden mental block.

Word History and Origins

Origin of brain freeze¹

First recorded in 1990–95

Example Sentences

His second-innings dismissal, playing no shot to be lbw to Noman Ali, was the sort of brain freeze that comes after a whole box of ice pops.

From BBC

BBC Sport’s Chris Sutton described it as a "brain freeze", former Leeds forward Lucy Ward said on TNT it was a "shambles" and "farcical", while ex-England striker Peter Crouch called it a "moment of madness".

From BBC

It's a brain freeze from Mings.

From BBC

Granted, it is about a scheme to remove Will’s brain, freeze it, and blast it into space at unprecedented speeds so it can be intercepted and studied by the San-Ti.

From New York Times

And that feels almost as bad as the brain freeze I suddenly get from the flavored ice.

From Literature