mind [1] (minds plural ) (NOUN USES)
Please look at category 45 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 n-count You refer to someone's mind when talking about their thoughts. For example, if you say that something is in your mind, you mean that you are thinking about it, and if you say that something is at the back of your mind, you mean that you are aware of it, although you are not thinking about it very much.
with poss
(=head)
I'm trying to clear my mind of all this..., There was no doubt in his mind that the man was serious..., I put what happened during that game to the back of my mind..., He spent the next hour going over the trial in his mind...
2 n-count Your mind is your ability to think and reason.
supp N
(=intellect)
You have a good mind..., Studying stretched my mind and got me thinking about things.
3 n-count If you have a particular type of mind, you have a particular way of thinking which is part of your character, or a result of your education or professional training.
usu sing, with supp
Andrew, you have a very suspicious mind..., The key to his success is his logical mind., ...an American writer who has researched the criminal mind.
4 n-count You can refer to someone as a particular kind of mind as a way of saying that they are clever, intelligent, or imaginative.
with supp
(=intellect)
She moved to London, meeting some of the best minds of her time.
5
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minded
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-minded
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frame of mind
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state of mind
6 If you tell someone to bear something in mind or to keep something in mind, you are reminding or warning them about something important which they should remember.
to bear/keep sth in mind phrase V inflects, oft PHR that, PHR n
Bear in mind that petrol stations are scarce in the more remote areas..., I should not be surprised about some of her comments, bearing in mind the party she belongs to.
7 If something brings another thing to mind or calls another thing to mind, it makes you think of that other thing, usually because it is similar in some way.
to bring/call sth to mind phrase V inflects, usu PHR n
That brings to mind a wonderful poem by Riokin...
8 If you cast your mind backto a time in the past, you think about what happened then.
cast your mind back phrase V and N inflect, oft PHR to n
Cast your mind back to 1978, when Forest won the title.
9 If you close your mindto something, you deliberately do not think about it or pay attention to it.
to close your mind phrase V and N inflect, usu PHR to n
She has closed her mind to last year's traumas.
10 If you change your mind, or if someone or something changes your mind, you change a decision you have made or an opinion that you had.
to change your/sb's mind phrase V and N inflect
I was going to vote for him, but I changed my mind and voted for Reagan..., It would be impossible to change his mind.
11 If something comes to mind or springs to mind, you think of it without making any effort.
to come/spring to mind phrase V inflects
Integrity and honesty are words that spring to mind when talking of the man.
12 If you say that an idea or possibility never crossed your mind, you mean that you did not think of it.
to cross your mind phrase V and N inflect, oft with brd-neg, oft it PHR that
It had never crossed his mind that there might be a problem...
13 If you see something in your mind's eye, you imagine it and have a clear picture of it in your mind.
in your mind's eye phrase PHR after v, PHR with cl
In his mind's eye, he can imagine the effect he's having.
14 If you have a mind to do something, you want, intend, or choose to do it.
to have a mind to phrase V inflects, oft PHR inf
The captain of the guard looked as if he had a mind to challenge them...
15 If you say that you have a good mind to do something or have half a mind to do it, you are threatening or announcing that you have a strong desire to do it, although you probably will not do it.
to have a good mind/half a mind to do phrase V inflects, usu PHR inf
He raged on about how he had a good mind to resign.
16 If you ask someone what they have in mind, you want to know in more detail about an idea or wish they have.
to have sth in mind phrase V inflects
`Maybe we could celebrate tonight.'—`What did you have in mind?'
17 If you have it in mind to do something, you intend or want to do it.
to have it in mind to do phrase V inflects, usu PHR inf
Collins Harvill had it in mind to publish a short volume about Pasternak.
18 If you do something with a particular thing in mind, you do it with that thing as your aim or as the reason or basis for your action.
with sth in mind phrase PHR after v, PHR with cl
These families need support. With this in mind a group of 35 specialists met last weekend.
19 If you say that something such as an illness is allin the mind, you mean that it relates to someone's feelings or attitude, rather than having any physical cause.
in the mind phrase v-link PHR
It could be a virus, or it could be all in the mind.
20 If you know your own mind, you are sure about your opinions, and are not easily influenced by other people.
to know your own mind phrase V and N inflect
21 If you say that someone is losing their mind, you mean that they are becoming mad.
lose your mind phrase V and N inflect
Sometimes I feel I'm losing my mind.
22 If you make up your mind or make your mind up, you decide which of a number of possible things you will have or do.
to make up your mind phrase V and N inflect, oft PHR to-inf
(=decide)
Once he made up his mind to do something, there was no stopping him..., She said her mind was made up.
23 You can use the expression mind over matter to describe situations in which a person seems to be able to control events, physical objects, or the condition of their own body using their mind.
mind over matter phrase oft n prep PHR
Good health is simply a case of mind over matter.
24 If a number of people are of one mind, of like mind, or of the same mind, they all agree about something.
of one/like/the same mind phrase v-link PHR
Contact with other disabled yachtsmen of like mind would be helpful..., The food companies are not of one mind about these new regulations.
25 If you say that something that happens is a load off your mind or a weight off your mind, you mean that it causes you to stop worrying, for example because it solves a problem that you had.
a load/weight off your mind phrase mind inflects, v-link PHR
26 If something is on your mind, you are worried or concerned about it and think about it a lot.
on your mind phrase N inflects, v-link PHR, PHR after v
This game has been on my mind all week..., I just forgot. I've had a lot on my mind.
27 If your mind is on something or you have your mind on something, you are thinking about that thing.
your mind is on sth/to have your mind on sth phrase V and N inflect, PHR n/-ing
At school I was always in trouble<endash>my mind was never on my work.
28 If you have an open mind, you avoid forming an opinion or making a decision until you know all the facts.
an open mind phrase N inflects, PHR after v
It's hard to see it any other way, though I'm trying to keep an open mind.
29 If something opens your mindto new ideas or experiences, it makes you more willing to accept them or try them.
to open sb's mind phrase V and N inflect, usu PHR to n
She also stimulated his curiosity and opened his mind to other cultures.
30 If you say that someone is out of their mind, you mean that they are mad or very foolish.
INFORMAL
out of your mind phrase N inflects, v-link PHR (disapproval)
(=crazy)
What are you doing? Are you out of your mind?
31 If you say that someone is out of their mindwith a feeling such as worry or fear, you are emphasizing that they are extremely worried or afraid.
INFORMAL
be/go out of your mind with sth phrase N inflects, v-link PHR, usu PHR with n (emphasis)
32 If you say that someone is, for example, bored out of their mind, scared out of their mind, or stoned out of their mind, you are emphasizing that they are extremely bored, scared, or affected by drugs.
INFORMAL
bored/stoned out of your mind phrase N inflects, v-link PHR (emphasis)
33 If you put your mind to something, you start making an effort to do it.
to put your mind to sth phrase V and N inflect, PHR n
You could do fine in the world if you put your mind to it.
34 If something puts you in mind of something else, it reminds you of it because it is similar to it or is associated with it.
to put you in mind of phrase V inflects, PHR n
(=remind)
This put me in mind of something Patrick said many years ago.
35 If you can read someone's mind, you know what they are thinking without them saying anything.
to read sb's mind phrase V and N inflect
Don't expect others to read your mind.
36 To put someone's mind at rest or set their mind at rest means to stop them worrying about something.
to set/put sb's mind at rest phrase V and N inflect
It may be advisable to have a blood test to put your mind at rest...
37 If you say that nobody in their right mind would do a particular thing, you are emphasizing that it is an irrational thing to do and you would be surprised if anyone did it.
nobody in their right mind phrase with brd-neg, n PHR (emphasis)
No one in her right mind would make such a major purchase without asking questions.
38 If you set your mind on something or have your mind set on it, you are determined to do it or obtain it.
to set your mind/have your mind set on sth phrase V and N inflect, PHR n
When my wife sets her mind on something, she invariably finds a way to achieve it.
39 If something slips your mind, you forget it.
to slip your mind phrase V and N inflect
I was going to mention it, but it slipped my mind.
40 If you speak your mind, you say firmly and honestly what you think about a situation, even if this may offend or upset people.
to speak your mind phrase V and N inflect
Martina Navratilova has never been afraid to speak her mind.
41 If something sticks in your mind, it remains firmly in your memory.
to stick in your mind phrase V and N inflect
I've always been fond of poetry and one piece has always stuck in my mind.
42 If something takes your mind off a problem or unpleasant situation, it helps you to forget about it for a while.
to take your mind off phrase V and N inflect, PHR n
`How about a game of tennis?' suggested Alan. `That'll take your mind off things.'
43 You say or write to my mind to indicate that the statement you are making is your own opinion.
to my mind phrase PHR with cl
There are scenes in this play which to my mind are incredibly violent.
44 If you are in two minds, you are uncertain about what to do, especially when you have to choose between two courses of action. The expression of two minds is also used, especially in American English.
in two minds phrase usu v-link PHR, oft PHR about n, PHR whether
(=unsure, undecided)
Like many parents, I am in two minds about school uniforms...
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to give someone a piece of your mind
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piece
