brain freeze
Americannoun
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Also called ice cream headache. a pain in the temples and forehead brought on by quickly consuming very cold food or drink.
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a temporary lapse in memory; a sudden mental block.
Etymology
Origin of brain freeze
First recorded in 1990–95
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But Scotland midfielder McGinn scored his second goal of the game from distance after a brain freeze from Forest goalkeeper John Victor, who inexplicably charged out of his area.
From Barron's • Jan. 3, 2026
The finale reached another low point with the “he’s your father” revelation in the end which must have caused “Star Wars” fans to have a brain freeze.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2025
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 • Nov. 6, 2024
We have certainly heard from many readers that inducing brain freeze at the first hint of a migraine may avert it.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 2, 2023
I draw in a sharp inhale, just as I’m subjected to the worst brain freeze I’ve ever experienced.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
