# What is the word I'm trying to think of? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 20, 2010, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-word-im-trying-to-think-of/533089 "2010-03-20T00:59:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-word-im-trying-to-think-of/533089/1 "2010-03-20T00:59:56Z")
I have a mental block… It means reliving the same thing over and over in your head. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-word-im-trying-to-think-of/533089/2 "2010-03-20T01:02:24Z")
Sounds like you’re experiencing presque vu … . ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-word-im-trying-to-think-of/533089/3 "2010-03-20T01:05:06Z")
It’s just on the tip of my tongue…grrr, it’s so annoying. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-word-im-trying-to-think-of/533089/4 "2010-03-20T01:06:17Z")
Obsession? Ground Hog Day? ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-word-im-trying-to-think-of/533089/5 "2010-03-20T01:07:42Z")
No!no!no! Come on, you’re all supposed to be smart. I’m in the middle of a chat and I’m trying to make a point but I can’t w/o the word. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-word-im-trying-to-think-of/533089/6 "2010-03-20T01:08:47Z")
[Rumination](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumination_%28psychology%29)? ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-word-im-trying-to-think-of/533089/7 "2010-03-20T01:09:43Z")
> [@freckafree](#): > > [Rumination](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumination_%28psychology%29)? I love you! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-word-im-trying-to-think-of/533089/8 "2010-03-20T01:16:59Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > I love you! 🙂 Aw, shucks! ::blushes:: 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-word-im-trying-to-think-of/533089/9 "2010-03-20T02:38:05Z")
[Ruminating beasties](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruminant): > [@](#): > > Physiologically, a ruminant is a mammal of the order Artiodactyla that digests plant-based food by initially softening it within the animal’s first stomach, known as the rumen, then regurgitating the semi-digested mass, now known as cud, and chewing it again. The process of rechewing the cud to further break down plant matter and stimulate digestion is called “ruminating”. Ruminating mammals include cattle, goats, sheep, giraffes, bison, yaks, water buffalo, deer, camels, alpacas, llamas, wildebeest, antelope, pronghorn, and nilgai. Taxonomically, the suborder Ruminantia includes all those species except the camels, llamas, and alpacas, which are Tylopoda. Therefore, the term ‘ruminant’ is not synonymous with Ruminantia. The word “ruminant” comes from the Latin ruminare, which means “to chew over again”. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-word-im-trying-to-think-of/533089/10 "2010-03-20T02:48:14Z")
How bout a Deja Do Loop? ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-word-im-trying-to-think-of/533089/11 "2010-03-20T02:57:28Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > [Ruminating beasties](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruminant): Sho you’re saying that biologically, ruminants are those hoofed animals that engage in _dejà chew_? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-word-im-trying-to-think-of/533089/12 "2010-03-20T03:20:23Z")
When it reaches pathological levels, one can be said to be [perseverating](http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/perseverate), though that is really repeating one response to one very specific detail or stimulus. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-word-im-trying-to-think-of/533089/13 "2010-03-20T03:21:50Z")
[Cogitate?](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cogitate) ---
**Author:** ![Laalune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/977dab/32.png) [@Laalune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laalune)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2010, 9:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-word-im-trying-to-think-of/533089/14 "2010-03-20T09:41:06Z")
Maybe [flashback](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flashback_%28psychology%29)?