psychological moment

Derived from a misunderstanding of German psychologische Moment, where Moment actually means momentum.

psychological moment (plural psychological moments)

1. The best time to do something, when those involved are in the most workable state of mind.
   • 1936, Rollo Ahmed, The Black Art, London: Long, page 41:

     At length the psychological moment arrived, and the sorcerer called upon her to deliver the child[.]

• window of opportunity

• “psychological moment”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
• “psychological moment”, in Cambridge English Dictionary, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press, 1999–present.
• “psychological moment” in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Longman.