freeze up

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 as temperatures have hit -20C on the front, both the equipment and men operating the devices freeze up.

From Barron's • Feb. 16, 2026

Arthur Julian, a writer on “F Troop,” noted that “real audiences sound phonier than the laugh track. Sometimes they freeze up and act unnatural.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 22, 2026

We freeze up because we’re afraid of the wrong choice.

From MarketWatch • Nov. 4, 2025

But the service was unreliable — access would frequently drop or freeze up.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2024

The men began to fear that the sails would freeze up and cake with ice, becoming heavier and heavier until the boat toppled upside down.

From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong