Mind idioms

mind idioms

 

a meeting of the minds

(a situation in which people have the same ideas and opinions and find it easy to agree with each other)

• I hope both parties will have a meeting of minds, not a battle of wills.
• After hours of fierce negotiation, they finally come to a meeting of the minds.

 

a weight off your mind

(a big problem that you no longer have to worry about)

• Paying my debts was a weight off my mind.
• I finally managed to quit smoking. It’s a real weight off my mind.

 

a mind of your own

(act or think independently)

• I advised my son to go to college, but he has a mind of his own and insists on trying to become a soccer player.
• You should be a man without fear, with a mind of your own.

 

a mind of its own

(something that works or moves in a way you do not expect)

• I can’t get this cellphone to work right. It seems to have a mind of its own.
• My computer seems to have a mind of its own today; it’s not working properly.

 

at the back of your mind

(something in your mind that you do not spend time thinking about)

• At the back of my mind is the fear of failing the exam.
• The thought that Sophia might come back was always at the back of his mind.

 

bear something in mind

(remember to consider something)

• We must bear in mind that the old people might not like that idea.
• Bear in mind that food and fuel are scarce in this region.

 

blow your mind  informal

(impress you strongly)

• Just listen to the song. It’ll blow your mind.
• Seeing him at the party really blew my mind.

 

all in your mind

(not real and you are imagining it)

• He is not ill at all; it’s all in the mind.
• Your painting has come out really well. Your fears were all in your mind.

 

boggles your mind

(shock or surprise you)

• The amount of waste in the streets boggles the mind.
• The vastness of space really boggles my mind.

 

bring or call to mind

(remember, cause to think of)

• Can you call to mind when you last saw him?
• Seeing you again brings to mind the happy times we spent together.

 

cast your mind back

(try to remember)

• If you cast your mind back, you might recall that I never promised to work nights.
• Cast your mind back to your first day at this office.

 

change someone’s mind

(make someone change an opinion or decision)

• I tried hard to convince him, but I couldn’t change his mind.
• You won’t be able to change my mind. I’m against the plan.

 

change your mind

(change your decision or opinion)

• I am not going, but if you are willing to go, I will change my mind.
• If you don’t buy the house now, she may change her mind and refuse to sell it.

 

come to mind

(remember or think of)

• What would you like to eat? – I’m not sure; nothing comes to mind.
• When I was reading the book, a new idea for the plan came to mind.

 

cross your mind

(come to your mind)

• It never crossed my mind to lock the door.
• Did the thought that you might someday need this old jam jar cross your mind?

 

don’t mind someone

(ignore someone and continue with what you are doing)

• Don’t mind me. I’ll just sit here quietly.
• Don’t mind us. We will carry on somehow.
• Don’t mind Jack; he likes to sing in the bathroom.

 

do you mind

(used to ask someone’s permission)

• Do you mind if I close the window?
• Do you mind looking after my kids when I’m out for a while?

 

frame of mind

(emotional state, mood)

• She returned home in a happier frame of mind.
• Let’s discuss this when you’re in the right frame of mind.

 

get someone or something out of your mind

(stop thinking about someone or something; forget)

• I really can’t get Ethen out of my mind; I just miss him too much.
• I just can’t put the burglary out of my mind.

 

get your mind around something

(succeed in understanding something difficult)

• It’s going to take a while for me to get my mind around such a complex issue.
• It was a novel idea to the seminar members, and it was hard to get your mind around it.

 

give someone a piece of your mind  informal

(speak frankly and angrily to someone because they have done something wrong)

• He’s late again; I’ll give him a piece of my mind when he gets in tonight.
• I’m going to give the plumber a piece of my mind if he doesn’t fix the water tank this time.

 

great minds think alike  spoken

(intelligent people think like each other)

• Let’s break for a cup of coffee. – I was just going to say the same thing; great minds think alike.
• Both of them had the same idea at the same time. – Great minds think alike.

 

have a closed mind

(to be unwilling to consider new ideas or opinions)

• David seems to have a closed mind, and he is not flexible about most things.
• It is very hard to argue with Jane. She has a closed mind.

 

have a lot on your mind

(have many problems to worry about)

• I’m sorry, I wasn’t really listening. I have a lot on my mind at the moment.
• What’s the matter? You seem to have a lot on your mind these days.

 

have a mind like a sieve

(have a poor memory)

• I have lost my keys again. I have a mind like a sieve.
• How could you forget my birthday? You do have a mind like a sieve!

 

have a mind to

(intend or want to)

• I have a good mind to tell your father that you have been truant twice this week.
• Whoever has the mind to beat his dog will easily find a stick.

 

have half a mind to

(to think about doing something)

• You have been rude to me, kid. I have half a mind to report you to your parents!
• I’ve half a mind to come with you to the party tonight.

 

have a mind like a steel trap

(have a very quick and understanding mind)

• Daniel has a mind like a steel trap; he can memorize most things easily.
• You need to have a mind like a steel trap to do this kind of work.

 

have an open mind

(be willing to consider new ideas or opinions)

• You should have an open mind to understand the topic.
• The plan doesn’t seem to be fruitful, but I’ll keep an open mind for the moment.

 

have a one-track mind

(think about one thing all the time and nothing else)

• John has a one-track mind. All he ever talks about is business and making money.
• You have a one-track mind, and that will leave you with very few options.

 

have something in mind

(think of, plan, or intend to)

• Is there anything you have in mind to eat for dinner?
• I have in mind grounding my son for a week for playing truant.

 

have someone in mind

(consider someone as a candidate for something)

• I have Daniel in mind for this job because he is the most qualified person.
• Who do you have in mind for the project manager?

 

have your mind on

(think about, give attention to)

• I think you have your mind on something else.
• I’m sorry, I didn’t get what you said. My mind was on other things.

 

in the back of your mind

(something in your mind that you ignore thinking about)

• In the back of my mind is the fear of failing the exam.
• The thought that he might come back was always in the back of her mind.

 

in your mind’s eye

(can remember or imagine the look of something)

• In my mind’s eye, I can still see the city where I was born.
• I can clearly imagine the magnificent scene of the waterfall in my mind’s eye.

 

in your right mind

(sane, mentally healthy)

• If you were in your right mind, you wouldn’t do such a terrible thing.
• No girl in her right mind will marry someone who doesn’t have an apartment of his own.

 

keep an open mind

(remain open to new ideas or opinions)

• I like to keep an open mind about how big the universe is.
• The plan doesn’t seem to be fruitful, but I’ll keep an open mind for the moment.

 

keep in mind

(remain aware of, think of)

• When you go shopping, you must keep your budget in mind.
• It’s not raining now, but keep in mind that it might rain later on.

 

keep your mind on something

(keep paying attention to, stay focused on)

• I was so upset that I found it difficult to keep my mind on what I was doing.
• I want you to keep your mind on your lessons.

 

know your own mind

(know what you want, like, or believe)

• You are old enough to know your own mind and make the decision for yourself.
• Daniel is a very bright and intelligent man who knows his own mind.

 

last thing on your mind

(something that you are not thinking about or considering)

• Getting married again is the last thing on my mind right now.
• The idea of working abroad is the last thing on my mind.

 

lose your mind

(become crazy; lose your sanity)

• You must have lost your mind if you think you can climb that peak.
• What are you doing on the fridge? Have you lost your mind?

 

make up your mind

(make a decision)

• It’s now or never, so make up your mind.
• I can’t tell you what to do. You’ll have to make up your own mind.

 

mind over matter

(use of the power of the mind to deal with a physical condition, problem, etc.)

• Good health is simply a matter of mind over matter.
• Do you believe that walking over hot coals is a matter of mind over matter?

 

mind you

(bear in mind)

• Mind you, lock the door when you leave the house.
• It was very expensive, mind you, but the quality was worth the extra cost.

 

 

mind your own business  rude

(do not interfere; this is not your concern)

• Mind your own business and leave me in peace.
• You stay out of this and mind your own business.

 

 

mind your Ps and Qs

(mind your language or manner)

• I have to mind my Ps and Qs when I meet Sophia’s parents.
• Your grand aunt is so fussy about behavior. You should mind your Ps and Qs.

 

never mind

(do not worry, it’s not important)

• The store is closed, but never mind; we can come back tomorrow.

(let alone)

• He is incapable of leading a team, never mind a country.

 

never you mind  informal

(used to tell someone that you are not going to tell them the answer)

• How much is your salary? Never you mind.
• What did he say to you? – Never you mind.

 

not in your right mind

(not sane, not mentally normal)

• I wasn’t in my right mind when I drove the car into the tree.
• Let’s talk about this at some other time. I think you are not in your right mind now.

 

of like mind

(have the same tastes or opinions)

• My brother and my uncle get along with each other because they are of like mind.

(in total agreement)

• The two parties are of one mind about new regulations.

 

of two minds

(unable to decide between two different ideas)

• I was of two minds about whether or not to accept the job.
• Sarah seemed to be of two minds about what to wear tonight.

 

mind your step

(be very careful when you walk)

• The floor looks slippery; you must mind your step.

(be very careful about how you behave)

• If you don’t want trouble, you must mind your steps with him.

 

out of your mind

(stupid or crazy)

• If you think I’m going to lend you money, you must be out of your mind.
• I’ll go out of my mind if the children continue making noise.

 

put someone or something out of mind

(stop thinking about; forget)

• I really can’t put Mike out of my mind; I just miss him too much.
• You’ve got to try to put the scene of the accident out of your mind.

 

put your mind at ease

(to relax, to stop feeling worried)

• What can I do for you to put your mind at ease?
• Just to put my mind at ease, I checked everything personally.
• Jake always helps to put my mind at ease in times of trouble.

 

put your mind to something

(decide to do something and put a lot of effort into achieving it)

• You can achieve anything if you put your mind to it.
• We can resolve the problem if we put our minds to it.

 

read someone’s mind

(know exactly what a person is thinking)

• I have known David for years, and I can read his mind.
• Alice had read her husband’s mind with perfect accuracy.

 

slip your mind

(to forget something)

• I meant to buy some cheese, but it completely slipped my mind.
• I was going to put the trash out for collection, but it slipped my mind.

 

speak your mind

(to say what you think directly)

• I always speak my mind.
• He is not afraid to speak his mind, even in front of the boss.
• Speak your mind, even if your voice shakes.

 

spring to mind

(suddenly remember or think of)

• The idea sprang to mind as I was reading a book.
• Two questions spring to mind.
• He asked me for my opinion, but nothing sprang to mind.

 

stick in your mind

(remain in your mind)

• It’s the kind of story that sticks in your mind for ages.
• The incident stuck in my mind for a long time.
• My father’s advice always sticks in my mind.

 

take your mind off

(to cause you to stop thinking about something unpleasant)

• Keeping busy takes your mind off negative things.
• I want to go for a walk. It’ll take my mind off my problems for a while.

 

turn of mind

(way of thinking)

• He is a very intelligent man with a scientific turn of mind.
• You have a very practical turn of mind.
• Jim is an educated person with a liberal turn of mind.

mind idioms, envocabulary.com