textbook fear
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English
[edit]Noun
[edit]textbook fear (countable and uncountable, plural textbook fears)
- (psychology) A type of anxiety or apprehension felt toward a situation or decision that is commonly perceived as difficult, overwhelming, or universally feared, rather than based on personal experience.
- I really want to move away for university, but the textbook fear of being on my own keeps holding me back.
- She experienced textbook fear when facing the difficult decision to change careers.