60 Idioms for Thinking

60 Idioms for Thinking

Thinking happens all the time. We think about what to eat, what to say, or what we should do next. Sometimes our brains feel busy like a buzzing bee. Other times, we’re just daydreaming or lost in thought. People use special phrases called idioms to talk about thinking in fun and clever ways. Idioms don’t say exactly what they mean, but they paint a picture with words.

For example, if someone says “pick your brain,” they don’t mean to touch your head. It means they want to ask you for ideas. Learning idioms helps us understand what people are really saying, and it makes our own talking and writing more interesting. In this article, you’ll see many idioms about thinking. You’ll learn what they mean and how to use them in real life.

Idioms for Thinking

1. Pick your brain

Meaning: Ask someone for their ideas or thoughts.
Within a Sentence: Can I pick your brain about the science project? / I picked my dad’s brain for good story ideas.
In Other Words: Ask someone for help thinking.

2. Rack your brain

Meaning: Try hard to remember or think.
Within a Sentence: I had to rack my brain to remember the answer. / She racked her brain for the perfect gift.
In Other Words: Think very hard.

3. Food for thought

Meaning: Something that makes you think.
Within a Sentence: That book gave me food for thought. / His question was real food for thought.
In Other Words: Something to think about later.

4. A lot on my mind

Meaning: Thinking about many things.
Within a Sentence: I have a lot on my mind before the test. / She has a lot on her mind today.
In Other Words: Feeling busy in your head.

5. Give it some thought

Meaning: Think about it before deciding.
Within a Sentence: I’ll give it some thought before I say yes. / Give it some thought before you choose.
In Other Words: Take time to think.

6. Think outside the box

Meaning: Be creative and different.
Within a Sentence: Try to think outside the box for this project. / He thought outside the box and found a fun solution.
In Other Words: Be creative.

7. Cross your mind

Meaning: To suddenly think of something.
Within a Sentence: The idea crossed my mind during lunch. / Did it ever cross your mind to check your backpack?
In Other Words: Pop into your head.

8. Lose your train of thought

Meaning: Forget what you were thinking or saying.
Within a Sentence: I lost my train of thought after the noise. / She lost her train of thought mid-sentence.
In Other Words: Forget what you were saying.

9. A penny for your thoughts

Meaning: Asking what someone is thinking.
Within a Sentence: You look quiet. A penny for your thoughts? / I said, “A penny for your thoughts,” when he stared out the window.
In Other Words: What are you thinking about?

10. Think twice

Meaning: Stop and think again before doing something.
Within a Sentence: Think twice before jumping in. / I had to think twice about spending my money.
In Other Words: Be careful before deciding.

11. Keep in mind

Meaning: Remember something important.
Within a Sentence: Keep in mind the test is on Friday. / She kept in mind to bring her lunch.
In Other Words: Don’t forget.

12. On second thought

Meaning: Changing your mind after thinking again.
Within a Sentence: On second thought, I’ll take the red one. / He stayed home on second thought.
In Other Words: After rethinking.

13. In two minds

Meaning: Not sure which choice to make.
Within a Sentence: I’m in two minds about joining the club. / She was in two minds about the dress.
In Other Words: Can’t decide.

14. It slipped my mind

Meaning: You forgot.
Within a Sentence: Sorry, it slipped my mind to call you. / Her birthday just slipped my mind.
In Other Words: I forgot.

15. Think on your feet

Meaning: Think and act fast.
Within a Sentence: He had to think on his feet during the quiz. / You need to think on your feet in dodgeball.
In Other Words: Be quick and smart.

16. Give it a thought

Meaning: Think about something, even just a little.
Within a Sentence: I gave it a thought but said no. / She gave it a thought and smiled.
In Other Words: Thought about it briefly.

17. Out of sight, out of mind

Meaning: You forget what you don’t see.
Within a Sentence: I forgot the toy out of sight, out of mind. / Once school ended, homework was out of sight, out of mind.
In Other Words: If it’s not around, I forget.

18. A brainwave

Meaning: A sudden smart idea.
Within a Sentence: I had a brainwave for the class project. / His brainwave saved the game.
In Other Words: A smart idea popped up.

19. Not thinking straight

Meaning: Can’t think clearly.
Within a Sentence: I’m tired and not thinking straight. / She wasn’t thinking straight after the fight.
In Other Words: Mind is not clear.

20. Put your thinking cap on

Meaning: Start thinking seriously.
Within a Sentence: Put your thinking cap on and solve this riddle. / We need to put our thinking caps on for this puzzle.
In Other Words: Focus and think hard.

21. Out of your mind

Meaning: Thinking in a silly or wild way.
Within a Sentence: Are you out of your mind? That’s too risky. / He must be out of his mind to try that.
In Other Words: That idea is crazy.

22. A no-brainer

Meaning: Very easy to decide.
Within a Sentence: Picking pizza was a no-brainer. / It’s a no-brainer to bring a jacket in the snow.
In Other Words: Super easy choice.

23. Off the top of your head

Meaning: Say something without thinking too long.
Within a Sentence: Off the top of my head, I’d say eight. / He gave an answer off the top of his head.
In Other Words: Guess quickly.

24. Get your head around it

Meaning: Understand something.
Within a Sentence: I can’t get my head around this math problem. / She finally got her head around the rules.
In Other Words: Try to understand.

25. Make up your mind

Meaning: Decide something.
Within a Sentence: Make up your mind yes or no? / I made up my mind to join soccer.
In Other Words: Choose now.

26. Think it over

Meaning: Take time to decide.
Within a Sentence: I’ll think it over and tell you tomorrow. / She needs to think it over.
In Other Words: Decide later.

27. Be in deep thought

Meaning: Thinking seriously or quietly.
Within a Sentence: He sat in deep thought. / She was in deep thought about the story.
In Other Words: Very focused on thinking.

28. Let me sleep on it

Meaning: Decide after thinking overnight.
Within a Sentence: Let me sleep on it and I’ll tell you. / She said she’d sleep on the choice.
In Other Words: Decide tomorrow.

29. Don’t overthink it

Meaning: Don’t think too much.
Within a Sentence: Don’t overthink it just answer. / She overthought her outfit.
In Other Words: Keep it simple.

30. Got me thinking

Meaning: Made you think about something.
Within a Sentence: That movie got me thinking. / His story got me thinking about friendship.
In Other Words: It made me stop and think.

31. Think ahead

Meaning: Plan for the future.
Within a Sentence: I need to think ahead for the science fair. / She thought ahead and packed a snack.
In Other Words: Plan early.

32. A thought crossed my mind

Meaning: You briefly thought about something.
Within a Sentence: A thought crossed my mind to call you. / The idea crossed my mind during lunch.
In Other Words: I thought of it for a second.

33. A light bulb went off

Meaning: A new idea came.
Within a Sentence: A light bulb went off when I saw the picture. / The answer popped up like a light bulb.
In Other Words: I suddenly got it.

34. Not give it a second thought

Meaning: Don’t worry about it again.
Within a Sentence: I didn’t give it a second thought. / She gave it away without a second thought.
In Other Words: Didn’t think again.

35. Lost in thought

Meaning: Thinking so much you don’t notice things.
Within a Sentence: He was lost in thought and didn’t hear me. / I walked past her while she was lost in thought.
In Other Words: Daydreaming or very focused.

36. A mind like a sponge

Meaning: Learns things quickly.
Within a Sentence: She has a mind like a sponge in science. / He picks things up fast like a sponge.
In Other Words: Learns fast.

37. Give someone a piece of your mind

Meaning: Tell someone you’re upset.
Within a Sentence: I gave him a piece of my mind for lying. / She gave her brother a piece of her mind.
In Other Words: Tell someone off.

38. Easier said than done

Meaning: Harder to do than to say.
Within a Sentence: Waking up early is easier said than done. / Saying “just relax” is easier said than done.
In Other Words: Not as easy as it sounds.

39. Not in your right mind

Meaning: Acting strange or not thinking well.
Within a Sentence: He must not be in his right mind to do that. / Are you in your right mind? That’s dangerous.
In Other Words: Thinking strangely.

40. Got it on my mind

Meaning: Thinking about it a lot.
Within a Sentence: I’ve got that test on my mind. / She has summer camp on her mind.
In Other Words: Can’t stop thinking about it.

41. Open-minded

Meaning: Willing to think about new ideas.
Within a Sentence: Be open-minded about trying new food. / He’s open-minded and listens to everyone.
In Other Words: Ready for new ideas.

42. Close-minded

Meaning: Not willing to think about new things.
Within a Sentence: Don’t be close-minded just hear them out. / She’s too close-minded to try something new.
In Other Words: Not open to change.

43. A one-track mind

Meaning: Always thinking about one thing.
Within a Sentence: He has a one-track mind about video games. / She has a one-track mind during math season.
In Other Words: Only focused on one thing.

44. Mind goes blank

Meaning: Suddenly forget everything.
Within a Sentence: My mind went blank during the test. / She stared at the page as her mind went blank.
In Other Words: Forget all at once.

45. Can’t get it out of my head

Meaning: Can’t stop thinking about it.
Within a Sentence: I can’t get that song out of my head. / He can’t stop thinking about the game it’s stuck in his head.
In Other Words: It keeps playing in my mind.

46. Mind-blowing

Meaning: Very surprising or amazing.
Within a Sentence: That magic trick was mind-blowing. / Her idea for the story was mind-blowing.
In Other Words: Really cool and surprising.

47. Off your mind

Meaning: Not thinking about it anymore.
Within a Sentence: I’m glad the test is off my mind. / Getting that done takes it off my mind.
In Other Words: It’s not bothering me now.

48. Bear in mind

Meaning: Remember something important.
Within a Sentence: Bear in mind that the library closes early. / Please bear in mind the rules.
In Other Words: Don’t forget.

49. At the back of your mind

Meaning: Something you’re kind of thinking about.
Within a Sentence: The trip is at the back of my mind. / I was doing homework, but the movie was at the back of my mind.
In Other Words: Quietly thinking about it.

50. Mind your own business

Meaning: Don’t get involved in other people’s matters.
Within a Sentence: Mind your own business, please. / She told him to mind his own business.
In Other Words: Don’t worry about it.

51. A wandering mind

Meaning: Can’t focus.
Within a Sentence: My wandering mind keeps drifting in class. / Her mind wanders during reading time.
In Other Words: Not paying attention.

52. Speak your mind

Meaning: Say what you really think.
Within a Sentence: I like to speak my mind in class. / He spoke his mind during the meeting.
In Other Words: Be honest.

53. To each their own

Meaning: Everyone thinks differently.
Within a Sentence: I don’t like it, but to each their own. / He said, “To each their own,” when I chose pickles.
In Other Words: Everyone has different thoughts.

54. A lot to take in

Meaning: So much to think about.
Within a Sentence: The lesson was a lot to take in. / Moving to a new school is a lot to take in.
In Other Words: A lot to handle in your head.

55. Keep your thoughts to yourself

Meaning: Don’t say what you’re thinking.
Within a Sentence: He kept his thoughts to himself. / I wanted to laugh, but I kept it to myself.
In Other Words: Stay quiet.

56. In the back of my mind

Meaning: Quietly thinking about something.
Within a Sentence: I was having fun, but homework was in the back of my mind. / He smiled, but worry stayed in the back of his mind.
In Other Words: A quiet worry or thought.

57. Hard to wrap my head around

Meaning: Difficult to understand.
Within a Sentence: That math was hard to wrap my head around. / I couldn’t wrap my head around the ending.
In Other Words: Hard to figure out.

58. In your head

Meaning: Something you imagine.
Within a Sentence: That fear is just in your head. / The sound was only in my head.
In Other Words: Not real.

59. Set your mind to it

Meaning: Decide to do something and try hard.
Within a Sentence: You can do it if you set your mind to it. / She set her mind to winning.
In Other Words: Try hard.

60. Train of thought

Meaning: The way you are thinking.
Within a Sentence: I lost my train of thought when the bell rang. / Her question broke my train of thought.
In Other Words: The path your thinking was going.

Idioms for Thinking – True/False Quiz

1. “Rack your brain” means to try hard to remember something.
2. If something “crosses your mind,” you think about it for a long time.
3. Saying “Think outside the box” means to copy others.
4. “A penny for your thoughts” is a way to ask someone what they’re thinking.
5. If you “lose your train of thought,” you stop being angry.
6. “On second thought” means you changed your mind.
7. Saying “I have a lot on my mind” means your mind is calm and empty.
8. If you “sleep on it,” you are giving yourself more time to decide.
9. “Out of sight, out of mind” means you keep thinking about something even if it’s not there.
10. “Mind your own business” means to stay out of other people’s problems.
11. “Bear in mind” means to forget something quickly.
12. Saying “It slipped my mind” means you forgot something.
13. “A no-brainer” is a decision that’s very hard to make.
14. “Put your thinking cap on” means to start thinking carefully.
15. If you have a “wandering mind,” it means you’re paying very close attention.

Answer Key

1. True
2. False
3. False
4. True
5. False
6. True
7. False
8. True
9. False
10. True
11. False
12. True
13. False
14. True
15. False

Scoring Guide

• 15 Correct Answers: Idioms Master!
• 10–14 Correct Answers: You really get Idioms, nice work!
• 6–9 Correct Answers: You’re learning, keep going!
• 0–5 Correct Answers: Let’s learn about Idioms together!

Conclusion

Idioms are fun ways to talk about thinking. They help us say things in a more interesting way. Instead of just saying “I’m thinking,” we can use phrases like “rack your brain” or “a lot on my mind.” These sayings are part of how people talk every day.

By learning these idioms, you can understand others better and make your own speaking and writing more colorful. Try using a few in class or at home. The more you practice, the more natural they will feel. Thinking clearly is important, and idioms help us show how our minds work.