Sometimes, people say things that don’t make sense if you look at the words alone. But when you understand what they really mean, they can be fun and helpful. These sayings are called idioms. Idioms are special phrases that have meanings different from the exact words. Today, we’re going to look at idioms about the mind.
These idioms can help us talk about how we think, how we feel, or what’s on our mind. You might hear someone say “make up your mind” or “a mind like a steel trap.” They don’t mean what they sound like. But if you learn what they really mean, you can use them in your own talking or writing. Let’s take a closer look at idioms about the mind and what they mean.
Idioms about Mind
1. Make up your mind
Meaning: Decide something
Within a Sentence: I can’t make up my mind about which snack to get. / She made up her mind to join the team.
In Other Words: Decide soon. / Choose something.
2. Cross your mind
Meaning: To think of something for a moment
Within a Sentence: It just crossed my mind to call Grandma. / The idea crossed his mind during lunch.
In Other Words: I suddenly thought of it. / A quick idea popped in.
3. A lot on your mind
Meaning: Thinking about many things
Within a Sentence: I had a lot on my mind before the big test. / Mom has a lot on her mind today.
In Other Words: Thinking too much. / Feeling busy in your head.
4. Peace of mind
Meaning: Feeling calm and safe
Within a Sentence: Knowing the dog was safe gave me peace of mind. / She locked the door for peace of mind.
In Other Words: Feel calm. / Know things are okay.
5. Change your mind
Meaning: Decide something different
Within a Sentence: I changed my mind and picked the blue shirt. / He changed his mind about the movie.
In Other Words: Picked something else. / Thought again.
6. Give someone a piece of your mind
Meaning: Talk to someone angrily
Within a Sentence: Dad gave me a piece of his mind when I lied. / She gave her brother a piece of her mind.
In Other Words: Told him off. / Spoke angrily.
7. Be in two minds
Meaning: Can’t decide
Within a Sentence: I’m in two minds about going to the party. / She was in two minds about the trip.
In Other Words: Stuck between choices. / Unsure.
8. Blow your mind
Meaning: Surprise or amaze someone
Within a Sentence: The magic show blew my mind. / That video game really blew his mind.
In Other Words: Wow! / So surprising.
9. Speak your mind
Meaning: Say what you really think
Within a Sentence: He always speaks his mind, even if it’s hard. / I decided to speak my mind about the rules.
In Other Words: Say the truth. / Be honest.
10. Bear in mind
Meaning: Remember something
Within a Sentence: Bear in mind, the test is tomorrow. / Bear in mind what the teacher said.
In Other Words: Keep it in your head. / Don’t forget.
11. Mind your own business
Meaning: Don’t get involved in others’ problems
Within a Sentence: He told me to mind my own business. / I just mind my own business at school.
In Other Words: Stay out of it. / Don’t get involved.
12. Out of your mind
Meaning: Acting strange or silly
Within a Sentence: Are you out of your mind for jumping off that chair? / She’s out of her mind with worry.
In Other Words: Acting wild. / Not thinking clearly.
13. A mind of its own
Meaning: Doesn’t do what you want
Within a Sentence: My hair has a mind of its own. / The computer has a mind of its own today.
In Other Words: Acts by itself. / Not easy to control.
14. Put your mind to it
Meaning: Focus and try hard
Within a Sentence: You can do it if you put your mind to it. / He passed the test by putting his mind to it.
In Other Words: Try your best. / Focus hard.
15. Mind goes blank
Meaning: Forget everything suddenly
Within a Sentence: My mind went blank during the test. / Her mind went blank on stage.
In Other Words: Forgot everything. / Couldn’t think.
16. In your right mind
Meaning: Thinking clearly
Within a Sentence: No one in their right mind would jump into cold water. / She’s not in her right mind today.
In Other Words: Not thinking straight. / Acting strange.
17. Change of mind
Meaning: Decide something new
Within a Sentence: I had a change of mind and stayed home. / She had a change of mind about the dress.
In Other Words: Picked something else. / Decided again.
18. Keep in mind
Meaning: Don’t forget
Within a Sentence: Keep in mind, the trip is early. / Keep in mind what Mom said.
In Other Words: Remember this. / Don’t forget.
19. Bring to mind
Meaning: Makes you think of something
Within a Sentence: That song brings to mind summer days. / Her dress brings to mind a rainbow.
In Other Words: Reminds me. / Makes me think of it.
20. Mind your manners
Meaning: Be polite
Within a Sentence: Mind your manners at dinner. / She always minds her manners.
In Other Words: Be nice. / Act properly.
21. Get something off your mind
Meaning: Stop worrying
Within a Sentence: Talking helped me get it off my mind. / He got the test off his mind.
In Other Words: Stop thinking about it. / Feel better.
22. To my mind
Meaning: In my opinion
Within a Sentence: To my mind, this is the best pizza. / To my mind, she’s very brave.
In Other Words: I think. / My opinion is.
23. Set your mind on
Meaning: Really want something
Within a Sentence: She set her mind on winning the race. / I set my mind on learning guitar.
In Other Words: Really want to. / Aim for it.
24. Have a one-track mind
Meaning: Think about one thing only
Within a Sentence: He has a one-track mind about video games. / She has a one-track mind when studying.
In Other Words: Thinks about only one thing. / Focused.
25. In the back of your mind
Meaning: A small thought or worry
Within a Sentence: I had it in the back of my mind all day. / The test was in the back of her mind.
In Other Words: Quiet thought. / Small worry.
26. Read someone’s mind
Meaning: Know what someone is thinking
Within a Sentence: You read my mind I was just thinking that! / Mom can read my mind sometimes.
In Other Words: Think the same. / Know what I think.
27. Open-minded
Meaning: Willing to listen to new ideas
Within a Sentence: Try to stay open-minded. / He’s open-minded about different foods.
In Other Words: Not judging. / Ready to try.
28. Close-minded
Meaning: Not willing to listen
Within a Sentence: Don’t be close-minded. / She’s too close-minded to try new games.
In Other Words: Won’t listen. / Not open to new stuff.
29. Peace of mind
Meaning: Feeling safe and calm
Within a Sentence: A phone call gave her peace of mind. / Knowing he’s safe brings peace of mind.
In Other Words: Feel calm. / No worry.
30. Great minds think alike
Meaning: Smart people often agree
Within a Sentence: We picked the same answer great minds think alike! / She said it too great minds think alike.
In Other Words: We thought the same. / Smart match.
31. Slip your mind
Meaning: To forget
Within a Sentence: It slipped my mind to call you. / The homework totally slipped my mind.
In Other Words: I forgot. / Didn’t remember.
32. Have a sharp mind
Meaning: Be very smart
Within a Sentence: She has a sharp mind for puzzles. / His sharp mind helps with math.
In Other Words: Very smart. / Quick thinker.
33. Keep an open mind
Meaning: Be ready to hear new things
Within a Sentence: Keep an open mind about new friends. / He kept an open mind about the new game.
In Other Words: Be ready to learn. / Try it first.
34. Know your own mind
Meaning: Be sure of what you want
Within a Sentence: She knows her own mind and picked red. / He knows his own mind when it comes to sports.
In Other Words: Decides for herself. / Sure of choices.
35. Be all in your mind
Meaning: Something that only seems real
Within a Sentence: The noise was all in your mind. / Maybe the worry is just in your mind.
In Other Words: Not really there. / Just felt like it.
36. Keep in the back of your mind
Meaning: Remember something, but not right now
Within a Sentence: Keep this in the back of your mind for next week. / Keep in the back of your mind what I said.
In Other Words: Save the thought. / Think about it later.
37. Put your mind at ease
Meaning: Help someone stop worrying
Within a Sentence: The doctor put my mind at ease. / Her hug put my mind at ease.
In Other Words: Made me feel calm. / Helped me stop worrying.
38. Mind-blowing
Meaning: Very amazing or surprising
Within a Sentence: The movie was mind-blowing. / His artwork is mind-blowing.
In Other Words: Super cool. / So amazing.
39. State of mind
Meaning: How someone is feeling
Within a Sentence: Her state of mind was calm. / He was in a happy state of mind.
In Other Words: Mood. / Feeling inside.
40. Have something in mind
Meaning: Be thinking of something
Within a Sentence: I have a game in mind for later. / Do you have a gift in mind for her?
In Other Words: Thinking of an idea. / Got a plan.
41. Speak your mind
Meaning: Say what you really think
Within a Sentence: I spoke my mind about the rule. / He speaks his mind in class.
In Other Words: Tell the truth. / Be honest.
42. Train of thought
Meaning: A flow of ideas
Within a Sentence: I lost my train of thought. / What was your train of thought just now?
In Other Words: What I was thinking. / My idea path.
43. Frame of mind
Meaning: Your mood or way of thinking
Within a Sentence: I was in the wrong frame of mind to play. / She’s in a good frame of mind today.
In Other Words: Mood. / Feeling.
44. Have a wandering mind
Meaning: Hard to stay focused
Within a Sentence: My mind keeps wandering in class. / She has a wandering mind today.
In Other Words: Gets distracted. / Can’t stay focused.
45. Keep your mind off
Meaning: Try not to think about something
Within a Sentence: I tried to keep my mind off the test. / Music keeps my mind off worries.
In Other Words: Don’t think about it. / Stay distracted.
46. Give your mind a break
Meaning: Rest your brain
Within a Sentence: I played soccer to give my mind a break. / She took a nap to rest her mind.
In Other Words: Take a break. / Stop thinking.
47. All in one’s head
Meaning: Something imagined
Within a Sentence: That fear is all in your head. / It’s not real it’s all in your head.
In Other Words: Just thought it. / Not real.
48. Be out of your mind with worry
Meaning: Be very worried
Within a Sentence: I was out of my mind with worry about the storm. / Mom was out of her mind with worry when I was late.
In Other Words: Super worried. / Very upset.
49. Set your mind at rest
Meaning: Help someone feel better
Within a Sentence: His message set my mind at rest. / A smile from her set my mind at rest.
In Other Words: Made me feel better. / Calmed me down.
50. Mind over matter
Meaning: Using willpower to do something hard
Within a Sentence: Running the race was all mind over matter. / She used mind over matter to keep going.
In Other Words: Used strong thinking. / Didn’t give up.
51. Have a good mind to
Meaning: Thinking about doing something
Within a Sentence: I have a good mind to tell the teacher. / She had a good mind to walk out.
In Other Words: Thinking of doing it. / Might do it.
52. Narrow-minded
Meaning: Not open to other ideas
Within a Sentence: He’s too narrow-minded about music. / Don’t be narrow-minded about new games.
In Other Words: Won’t listen. / Only likes his way.
53. Keep your mind on
Meaning: Focus on something
Within a Sentence: Keep your mind on your homework. / She kept her mind on the prize.
In Other Words: Stay focused. / Don’t get distracted.
54. In the mind’s eye
Meaning: In your imagination
Within a Sentence: I see it in my mind’s eye. / In her mind’s eye, she was flying.
In Other Words: Imagined it. / Pretend picture.
55. Slip someone’s mind
Meaning: Forget about it
Within a Sentence: Sorry, it slipped my mind. / It just slipped his mind to call.
In Other Words: Forgot. / Didn’t remember.
56. Mind your head
Meaning: Watch out so you don’t bump it
Within a Sentence: Mind your head going in! / He said, “Mind your head,” near the door.
In Other Words: Don’t hit it. / Be careful.
57. Mind reader
Meaning: Someone who guesses thoughts
Within a Sentence: You’re a mind reader! / He guessed like a mind reader.
In Other Words: Knew what I was thinking. / Guessed right.
58. Never mind
Meaning: Don’t worry about it
Within a Sentence: Never mind the noise. / Never mind, I’ll do it myself.
In Other Words: Forget it. / It’s okay.
59. Mind your step
Meaning: Be careful where you walk
Within a Sentence: Mind your step on the ice. / She said, “Mind your step,” near the stairs.
In Other Words: Watch out. / Be careful.
60. Be in a good mind
Meaning: Feel ready or happy to do something
Within a Sentence: I’m in a good mind to help. / She’s in a good mind to share.
In Other Words: Feeling nice. / Ready to help.
True/False Quiz – Idioms About Mind
- “Make up your mind” means to forget something.
- If someone says, “I have a lot on my mind,” they are thinking about many things.
- “Out of your mind” means someone is thinking clearly.
- “Mind your own business” means to stay out of other people’s problems.
- If you “speak your mind,” you are hiding how you feel.
- “Bear in mind” means to remember something.
- “Mind goes blank” means you suddenly remember everything.
- “Give someone a piece of your mind” means you talk to them kindly and quietly.
- If something “blows your mind,” it means it’s boring.
- “Keep your mind on” means to focus on something.
- “Slip your mind” means you forgot something.
- “Have a one-track mind” means you think about many things at once.
- “Mind your manners” means to act politely.
- “In the back of your mind” means you are not thinking about something at all.
- “Read someone’s mind” means you know what they are thinking.
Answers
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
- False
- False
- False
- True
- True
- False
- True
- False
- True
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 about the mind help us talk in fun and clear ways. These sayings tell others how we feel, think, or act without using long words. Some help show feelings, while others talk about focus, ideas, or choices.
Now that you know these idioms, try using them. You can use them at school, with friends, or in writing. They make your words more interesting and help people understand you better. Keep practicing and learning more every day.
