Have you ever heard someone say, “It’s all in your mind” or “I can’t wrap my mind around it”?
These are idioms – expressions that convey a meaning beyond the literal interpretation of their words.
Understanding new concepts can be as tricky as untangling a knot in your mind. Explore more comparisons like this at Similes for Mind and Metaphors for Mind.
What is an idiom for mind?
An idiom for mind is a phrase or expression that relates to thoughts, emotions, or mental processes.
These idioms are commonly used in conversation to convey complex ideas in a simple and concise manner.
Summary
| Idiom | Meaning | Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Wrap one’s mind around | To understand or comprehend something difficult or complex. | After hours of studying, I finally managed to wrap my mind around the difficult math problem. |
| Blow one’s mind | To astonish or overwhelm someone with surprising or impressive information or experiences. | The magician’s performance completely blew my mind with its stunning illusions. |
| Mind over matter | The power of the mind to control or overcome physical challenges or obstacles. | With enough determination, I believe I can achieve anything – it’s all about mind over matter. |
| Have a mind of one’s own | To have strong opinions or make decisions independently, without being influenced by others. | Despite what others may think, Sarah has always had a mind of her own and sticks to her beliefs. |
| Change one’s mind | To alter one’s opinion, decision, or viewpoint. | At first, I wasn’t sure about going to the concert, but after hearing how amazing it was, I changed my mind. |
| Keep in mind | To remember or consider something important. | As you prepare for the exam, keep in mind that studying regularly is key to success. |
| Out of sight, out of mind | If something is not visible or present, it is easily forgotten or dismissed from one’s thoughts. | When I moved to a new city, my childhood friends quickly became out of sight, out of mind. |
| Lose one’s mind | To become mentally unstable or irrational due to extreme emotions or stress. | After hearing the shocking news, she felt like she was about to lose her mind. |
| Read someone’s mind | To understand or anticipate someone’s thoughts or feelings without them expressing them verbally. | It’s like he can read my mind – he always knows exactly what I’m thinking. |
| Set one’s mind to it | To be determined and focused on achieving a specific goal or objective. | Despite the challenges, she set her mind to becoming a doctor and worked tirelessly to achieve her dream. |
| Make up one’s mind | To reach a decision or conclusion after considering various options or possibilities. | After much deliberation, he finally made up his mind to pursue a career in journalism. |
| Slip one’s mind | To forget something momentarily or unintentionally. | I had intended to call her, but it slipped my mind amidst all the other tasks I had to do. |
| Speak one’s mind | To express one’s thoughts, opinions, or feelings openly and honestly. | I appreciate when people speak their mind, even if their opinions differ from mine. |
| Bear in mind | To remember or take into consideration a particular fact or piece of information. | When planning your budget, bear in mind that unexpected expenses may arise. |
| Cross one’s mind | To occur or come into one’s thoughts momentarily. | It never crossed my mind that she would be interested in joining the hiking trip until she mentioned it. |
| Open-minded | Willing to consider new ideas, perspectives, or experiences without prejudice or judgment. | Being open-minded allows us to grow and learn from different cultures and viewpoints. |
| Half a mind to | To have a strong inclination or intention to do something, but hesitating or unsure about it. | After the argument, I had half a mind to quit my job, but I decided to sleep on it before making a decision. |
| In the back of one’s mind | To be aware of or keep something in one’s thoughts, often subconsciously. | Even though I didn’t want to think about it, the worry lingered in the back of my mind throughout the day. |
| Lose one’s train of thought | To forget what one was saying or thinking about, especially in the middle of a conversation or task. | I was explaining my idea, but I lost my train of thought when someone interrupted me. |
| Absent-minded | Forgetful or preoccupied to the extent of not paying attention to one’s surroundings or actions. | He’s so absent-minded that he often forgets where he left his keys or glasses. |
| Have a lot on one’s mind | To be preoccupied or deeply concerned about many things. | With exams approaching and family issues to deal with, she had a lot on her mind lately. |
| Mind games | Psychological manipulation or deceptive tactics used to confuse or control someone. | I can’t stand playing mind games with people – honesty is always the best policy. |
| A mind of steel | Having strong willpower, resilience, or determination, especially in challenging situations. | Despite facing numerous setbacks, she tackled each obstacle with a mind of steel and never gave up. |
| A closed mind | Unwilling to consider new ideas, perspectives, or information; narrow-minded. | It’s hard to have a productive conversation with someone who has a closed mind and refuses to listen to different viewpoints. |
| Great minds think alike | Used humorously to acknowledge when two or more people have the same idea or opinion. | I was just about to suggest ordering pizza, and you beat me to it – great minds think alike! |
| Blow someone’s mind | To impress or astonish someone greatly. | The breathtaking view from the mountaintop completely blew my friend’s mind. |
Idioms for Mind
1. Wrap one’s mind around
Meaning: To understand or comprehend something difficult or complex.
In a Sentence: After hours of studying, I finally managed to wrap my mind around the difficult math problem.
2. Blow one’s mind
Meaning: To astonish or overwhelm someone with surprising or impressive information or experiences.
In a Sentence: The magician’s performance completely blew my mind with its stunning illusions.
3. Mind over matter
Meaning: The power of the mind to control or overcome physical challenges or obstacles.
In a Sentence: With enough determination, I believe I can achieve anything – it’s all about mind over matter.
4. Have a mind of one’s own
Meaning: To have strong opinions or make decisions independently, without being influenced by others.
In a Sentence: Despite what others may think, Sarah has always had a mind of her own and sticks to her beliefs.
5. Change one’s mind
Meaning: To alter one’s opinion, decision, or viewpoint.
In a Sentence: At first, I wasn’t sure about going to the concert, but after hearing how amazing it was, I changed my mind.
6. Keep in mind
Meaning: To remember or consider something important.
In a Sentence: As you prepare for the exam, keep in mind that studying regularly is key to success.
7. Out of sight, out of mind
Meaning: If something is not visible or present, it is easily forgotten or dismissed from one’s thoughts.
In a Sentence: When I moved to a new city, my childhood friends quickly became out of sight, out of mind.
8. Lose one’s mind
Meaning: To become mentally unstable or irrational due to extreme emotions or stress.
In a Sentence: After hearing the shocking news, she felt like she was about to lose her mind.
9. Read someone’s mind
Meaning: To understand or anticipate someone’s thoughts or feelings without them expressing them verbally.
In a Sentence: It’s like he can read my mind – he always knows exactly what I’m thinking.
10. Set one’s mind to it
Meaning: To be determined and focused on achieving a specific goal or objective.
In a Sentence: Despite the challenges, she set her mind to becoming a doctor and worked tirelessly to achieve her dream.
11. Make up one’s mind
Meaning: To reach a decision or conclusion after considering various options or possibilities.
In a Sentence: After much deliberation, he finally made up his mind to pursue a career in journalism.
12. Slip one’s mind
Meaning: To forget something momentarily or unintentionally.
In a Sentence: I had intended to call her, but it slipped my mind amidst all the other tasks I had to do.
13. Speak one’s mind
Meaning: To express one’s thoughts, opinions, or feelings openly and honestly.
In a Sentence: I appreciate when people speak their mind, even if their opinions differ from mine.
14. Bear in mind
Meaning: To remember or take into consideration a particular fact or piece of information.
In a Sentence: When planning your budget, bear in mind that unexpected expenses may arise.
15. Cross one’s mind
Meaning: To occur or come into one’s thoughts momentarily.
In a Sentence: It never crossed my mind that she would be interested in joining the hiking trip until she mentioned it.
16. Open-minded
Meaning: Willing to consider new ideas, perspectives, or experiences without prejudice or judgment.
In a Sentence: Being open-minded allows us to grow and learn from different cultures and viewpoints.
17. Half a mind to
Meaning: To have a strong inclination or intention to do something, but hesitating or unsure about it.
In a Sentence: After the argument, I had half a mind to quit my job, but I decided to sleep on it before making a decision.
18. In the back of one’s mind
Meaning: To be aware of or keep something in one’s thoughts, often subconsciously.
In a Sentence: Even though I didn’t want to think about it, the worry lingered in the back of my mind throughout the day.
19. Lose one’s train of thought
Meaning: To forget what one was saying or thinking about, especially in the middle of a conversation or task.
In a Sentence: I was explaining my idea, but I lost my train of thought when someone interrupted me.
20. Absent-minded
Meaning: Forgetful or preoccupied to the extent of not paying attention to one’s surroundings or actions.
In a Sentence: He’s so absent-minded that he often forgets where he left his keys or glasses.
21. Have a lot on one’s mind
Meaning: To be preoccupied or deeply concerned about many things.
In a Sentence: With exams approaching and family issues to deal with, she had a lot on her mind lately.
22. Mind games
Meaning: Psychological manipulation or deceptive tactics used to confuse or control someone.
In a Sentence: I can’t stand playing mind games with people – honesty is always the best policy.
23. A mind of steel
Meaning: Having strong willpower, resilience, or determination, especially in challenging situations.
In a Sentence: Despite facing numerous setbacks, she tackled each obstacle with a mind of steel and never gave up.
24. A closed mind
Meaning: Unwilling to consider new ideas, perspectives, or information; narrow-minded.
In a Sentence: It’s hard to have a productive conversation with someone who has a closed mind and refuses to listen to different viewpoints.
25. Great minds think alike
Meaning: Used humorously to acknowledge when two or more people have the same idea or opinion.
In a Sentence: I was just about to suggest ordering pizza, and you beat me to it – great minds think alike!
26. Blow someone’s mind
Meaning: To impress or astonish someone greatly.
In a Sentence: The breathtaking view from the mountaintop completely blew my friend’s mind.
Here are 10 quiz questions about the idioms discussed in the article:
- What does the idiom “mind over matter” mean?
- A) To become mentally unstable
- B) To have strong opinions
- C) The power of the mind to control or overcome physical challenges
- D) To forget something unintentionally
- Which idiom means “to express one’s thoughts, opinions, or feelings openly and honestly”?
- A) Speak one’s mind
- B) Change one’s mind
- C) Lose one’s mind
- D) Bear in mind
- What does the idiom “out of sight, out of mind” imply?
- A) To alter one’s opinion
- B) To forget something momentarily
- C) If something is not visible or present, it is easily forgotten
- D) To become mentally unstable
- Which idiom refers to being forgetful or preoccupied to the extent of not paying attention to one’s surroundings or actions?
- A) Have a lot on one’s mind
- B) Mind games
- C) Absent-minded
- D) A mind of steel
- What does it mean when someone says “I had half a mind to quit my job”?
- A) They are very determined to quit their job
- B) They are uncertain about quitting their job
- C) They are unable to make up their mind about quitting their job
- D) They have already quit their job
- Which idiom is used to convey the idea of understanding or comprehending something difficult or complex?
- A) Wrap one’s mind around
- B) Slip one’s mind
- C) Set one’s mind to it
- D) Speak one’s mind
- What does the idiom “read someone’s mind” mean?
- A) To forget something momentarily
- B) To anticipate someone’s thoughts or feelings without them expressing them verbally
- C) To alter one’s opinion
- D) To become mentally unstable
- Which idiom refers to the act of reaching a decision or conclusion after considering various options?
- A) Make up one’s mind
- B) Cross one’s mind
- C) Keep in mind
- D) Mind games
- What is the meaning of the idiom “have a mind of one’s own”?
- A) To have strong opinions or make decisions independently
- B) To be forgetful or preoccupied
- C) To alter one’s opinion
- D) To become mentally unstable
- If someone says, “The breathtaking view completely blew my mind,” what are they expressing?
- A) They forgot something momentarily
- B) They have strong opinions
- C) They were impressed or astonished by something
- D) They are experiencing psychological manipulation
Conclusion
The mind is a powerful thing, capable of shaping our perceptions, decisions, and actions. Idioms related to the mind offer insights into human psychology and behavior, allowing us to communicate complex ideas with simplicity and depth.
