block

* mental block (against something)

Fig. to have some psychological barrier that prevents one from doing something. (*Typically: get ~; have ~; give someone ~.) Perry has a mental block against speaking in public.

See also: mental

block (someone or something) in some place and block (someone or something) in

to place an obstacle that prevents someone or something from getting out of something. I can't get out of my parking space. Someone blocked me in my space. Don't block in any of the other cars in the garage.

See also: place, some

block someone up*

to constipate someone. That food always blocks me up. He blocked himself up by eating something he shouldn't. That vile stuff would block up anybody!

See also: up

block something off

to prevent movement through something by putting up a barrier; to close a passageway. Sam blocked the corridor off with a row of chairs. He used some chairs to block off the hallway.

block something out 

1. to obscure a clear view of something. The trees blocked the sun out. The bushes blocked out my view of the car that was approaching.

2. to lay something out carefully; to map out the details of something. She blocked it out for us, so we could understand. Let me block out this project for you right now.

See also: out

block something up

to obstruct something; to stop the flow within a channel. The heaps of debris blocked the channel up. The leaves blocked up the drain.

See also: up

chip off the old block

Fig. a person (usually a male) who behaves in the same way as his father or resembles his father. John looks like his father—a real chip off the old block. Bill Jones, Jr., is a chip off the old block. He's a banker just like his father.

See also: chip, old

go on the block

Fig. [for something] to go up for auction; [for something] to be placed on the auction block. Our farm went on the block last week. Got a good price. When this painting goes on the block, I hope I get a lot for it.

knock someone's block off

Sl. to hit someone hard in the head. Wilbur almost knocked Tom's block off by accident. He threatened to knock my block off if I didn't do as I was told.

See also: knock

new kid on the block 

1. Lit. a child who has just moved to a certain neighborhood. The new kid on the block turned out to be a really good baseball player.

2. Fig. the newest person in a group. I'm just the new kid on the block. I've only been working here for a month.

See also: kid, new

on the block 

1. Lit. on a city or suburban block. John is the biggest kid on the block. We had a party on the block last weekend.

2. on sale at auction; on the auction block. We couldn't afford to keep up the house, so it was put on the block to pay the taxes. That's the finest painting I've ever seen on the block.

put one's head on the block (for someone or something)

Fig. to take great risks for someone or something; to go to a lot of trouble or difficulty for someone or something; to attempt to gain favor for someone or something. I don't know why I should put my head on the block for Joan. What has she ever done for me? Sally tried to get me to put in a good word about her with the boss. But the last time I put my head on the block for anyone, it all backfired, and when the person goofed up, I looked like an idiot!

See also: head, put

stumbling block

Fig. something that prevents or obstructs progress. We'd like to buy that house, but the high price is a stumbling block. Jim's age is a stumbling block to getting another job. He's over sixty.

See also: stumble

writer's block

the temporary inability for a writer to think of what to write. I have writer's block at the moment and can't seem to get a sensible sentence on paper.

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a chip off the old block

if someone is a chip off the old block, they are very similar in character to one of their parents or to another older member of their family (not used with the ) Look at her bossing everyone around - she's a real chip off the old block!

See also: chip, old

a stumbling block

a problem which prevents someone from achieving something (often + to ) Lack of willingness to compromise is the main stumbling block to reaching a settlement. Money, obviously, is a major stumbling block in any project of this size.

See also: stumble

be off the (starting) blocks  also be out of the (starting) blocks

to have started an activity Rival telephone companies were quick off the blocks with their reduced price offers. The project for rebuilding the theatre is now off the starting blocks.

have been around the block 

1. to have had a lot of experience of a particular situation His lawyer has been around the block a few times and knows what to expect.

2. to have had a lot of experience of life, especially difficult or unpleasant experience His girlfriend looks like she's been around the block a bit.

See also: around, been, have

knock somebody's block off  (informal)

if you say you will knock someone's block off, you mean you will hit them very hard Say that again and I'll knock your block off!

See also: knock

on the block  (American)

if something is on the block, it is for sale, especially at an auction (= a sale where the person who offers most money for something can buy it) The best pieces of furniture from the old mansion are going on the block next month. The Seattle radio station has been on the block for a year with no offers to buy it.

put your head/neck on the block

to risk doing something which will make other people lose their good opinion of you if it fails

Usage notes: In the past, the block was a large piece of wood on which criminals had their heads cut off.

He put his head on the block by promising his team wouldn't lose any more matches this year. I'm not going to put my head on the block for you - it could cost me my promotion.

See knock block off

See also: head, put

the new kid on the block  (American & Australian informal)

someone who is new in a place or organization and has many things to learn about it Realizing I was the new kid on the block in this job, I was determined to prove myself.

See a whole new ball game, breathe life into, break new ground, turn over a new leaf

See also: kid, new

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a chip off the old block

someone who is similar in character to their father or mother She enjoys bossing people around just like her mother used to do - she's a real chip off the old block!

See also: chip, old

block out something also block something out

1. to ignore something After a while you become good at forcing yourself to block out the pain. Related vocabulary: blot out something

2. to make time available When was the last time you blocked out two hours to do whatever you felt like doing?

See also: out

on the block

for sale The radio station has been on the block for a year, but no one seems to want to buy it.

Etymology: based on the auction block (the surface from which a public sale of goods or property to the person willing to pay the most happens)

out of the (starting) blocks

at or from the very beginning out of the (starting) gate The company wanted to be first out of the blocks with the newest video game format.

Etymology: based on the literal meaning of starting blocks (blocks a runner's shoes are placed against at the beginning of a race)

See also: out

the new kid on the block

a recent arrival The Internet is still the new kid on the block in communications technologies.

See also: kid, new