Have you ever tried to explain what you’re thinking when you dream up something wild or fun? Maybe you thought about flying cars or animals that talk. When we use our minds to picture things that aren’t real, we are using our imagination.
To talk about this, people often use special phrases called idioms. These are fun sayings that don’t always mean what the words sound like. Instead, they help us share ideas in a more colorful way. In this article, you’ll learn some idioms people use when they’re imagining things. These idioms will help you talk about dreams, ideas, and even daydreams in an exciting and clear way.
Idioms for Imagine
1. In your mind’s eye
Meaning: To picture something in your imagination.
Within a Sentence: I saw the castle in my mind’s eye. / In her mind’s eye, she could see the perfect snow day.
In Other Words: I imagined it. / She pictured it in her head.
2. A figment of your imagination
Meaning: Something you think you saw or heard but didn’t.
Within a Sentence: The sound was just a figment of my imagination. / He thought he saw a dragon, but it was a figment of his imagination.
In Other Words: It wasn’t real. / I imagined it by mistake.
3. Dream up
Meaning: To think of something creative or silly.
Within a Sentence: She dreamed up a story about talking trees. / We dreamed up a new game for recess.
In Other Words: Made it up. / Thought of something fun.
4. Off in la-la land
Meaning: Not paying attention because you’re daydreaming.
Within a Sentence: He didn’t hear the question he was off in la-la land. / She’s always in la-la land during math.
In Other Words: Daydreaming. / Not focused.
5. Make-believe
Meaning: Something imagined or not real.
Within a Sentence: They played make-believe with pirates and treasure. / The story was all make-believe.
In Other Words: Pretend. / Not real.
6. Build castles in the air
Meaning: To imagine big or dreamy plans.
Within a Sentence: He was building castles in the air, thinking of his future fame. / She builds castles in the air about having a unicorn.
In Other Words: Dream big. / Think of things that may not happen.
7. Living in a fantasy world
Meaning: Believing in things that are not real.
Within a Sentence: He thinks he’ll ride a dragon he’s living in a fantasy world. / She’s living in a fantasy world if she thinks pets can talk.
In Other Words: Believing in pretend things. / Not being real.
8. Picture it
Meaning: To imagine what something looks like.
Within a Sentence: Picture it a house made of chocolate! / Picture it in your head before you draw.
In Other Words: See it in your mind. / Imagine it.
9. Wild imagination
Meaning: Very creative or unusual ideas.
Within a Sentence: She has a wild imagination she thought the dog could fly. / His wild imagination came up with space monsters.
In Other Words: Creative thinking. / Fun ideas.
10. Flights of fancy
Meaning: Thoughts that are not realistic.
Within a Sentence: Thinking we’ll find gold in the backyard is a flight of fancy. / His plan to move to the moon is just a flight of fancy.
In Other Words: Silly idea. / Not likely to happen.
11. Let your imagination run wild
Meaning: To think freely without limits.
Within a Sentence: Let your imagination run wild while writing your story. / She let her imagination run wild and drew a rainbow dragon.
In Other Words: Be creative. / Think big and fun.
12. Lost in thought
Meaning: Deeply thinking or imagining.
Within a Sentence: He was lost in thought during lunch. / She sat quietly, lost in thought.
In Other Words: Daydreaming. / Thinking deeply.
13. Dream world
Meaning: An unreal or perfect place in your mind.
Within a Sentence: She was in a dream world where candy grew on trees. / He lives in a dream world of no homework.
In Other Words: Made-up world. / Fantasy place.
14. Out of this world
Meaning: Amazing or beyond real life.
Within a Sentence: That idea is out of this world! / Her spaceship story was out of this world.
In Other Words: Amazing. / Like science fiction.
15. In another world
Meaning: Not paying attention because of imagination.
Within a Sentence: He didn’t hear the bell he was in another world. / She’s always in another world during class.
In Other Words: Daydreaming. / Not aware of real things.
16. Paint a picture with words
Meaning: Describe something clearly using imagination.
Within a Sentence: The author painted a picture with words about the forest. / She painted a picture with words about her dream vacation.
In Other Words: Describe well. / Help others imagine.
17. Think outside the box
Meaning: Use imagination to find new ideas.
Within a Sentence: We need to think outside the box to solve this puzzle. / He thought outside the box to design a cool robot.
In Other Words: Be creative. / Try new ideas.
18. Off the wall
Meaning: Very strange or creative.
Within a Sentence: Her story about moon cows was off the wall. / That idea to build a slide in class is off the wall.
In Other Words: Weird. / Different and fun.
19. Create in your head
Meaning: Imagine something without seeing it.
Within a Sentence: Create your animal in your head before drawing it. / I created a whole new world in my head.
In Other Words: Think it up. / Imagine it.
20. Bring to life
Meaning: Make an idea feel real.
Within a Sentence: His words brought the dragon to life. / The teacher brought history to life with stories.
In Other Words: Make it seem real. / Show it clearly.
21. In your head
Meaning: Something you think or picture mentally.
Within a Sentence: I had a song playing in my head. / She saw the parade in her head before drawing it.
In Other Words: Inside your thoughts. / In your mind.
22. Daydream away
Meaning: To get lost in your own thoughts.
Within a Sentence: He daydreamed away while the teacher talked. / I daydreamed away during the car ride.
In Other Words: Not paying attention. / Imagining something fun.
23. Dream big
Meaning: To imagine great or amazing things.
Within a Sentence: Dream big you might be an astronaut! / She dreams big about becoming a singer.
In Other Words: Imagine big things. / Have big goals.
24. Picture-perfect in your mind
Meaning: Something imagined clearly and nicely.
Within a Sentence: I saw the picnic picture-perfect in my mind. / Her birthday party looked picture-perfect in her head.
In Other Words: Very clear idea. / Imagined perfectly.
25. Build in your mind
Meaning: To create something using your imagination.
Within a Sentence: He built the robot in his mind before using Legos. / I built a treehouse in my mind first.
In Other Words: Think it up first. / Imagine before making.
26. Living in a dream
Meaning: Thinking of good or fun things all the time.
Within a Sentence: She’s living in a dream of being famous. / He’s living in a dream where every day is summer.
In Other Words: Always imagining. / Pretending it’s true.
27. Spin a tale
Meaning: To create a story from imagination.
Within a Sentence: He spun a tale about a talking bear. / She loves to spin tales about magical lands.
In Other Words: Tell a made-up story. / Imagine something.
28. Reach for the stars
Meaning: To dream of big goals.
Within a Sentence: Reach for the stars and write your best story. / She’s reaching for the stars with her art.
In Other Words: Imagine great things. / Try big dreams.
29. Let your mind wander
Meaning: To stop focusing and start imagining.
Within a Sentence: I let my mind wander during the long drive. / She let her mind wander and pictured a castle.
In Other Words: Daydream. / Think about fun things.
30. Magic in your mind
Meaning: Powerful or wonderful thoughts.
Within a Sentence: There’s magic in your mind when you create new things. / His ideas were like magic in his mind.
In Other Words: Amazing imagination. / Wonderful thoughts.
31. See it in your head
Meaning: To imagine something clearly.
Within a Sentence: I can see the zoo in my head. / She saw the whole book scene in her head.
In Other Words: Picture it. / Think of it clearly.
32. Create from thin air
Meaning: Make up something with no help.
Within a Sentence: He created that superhero from thin air. / She made up a whole town from thin air.
In Other Words: Invent. / Imagine with nothing.
33. A dreamer at heart
Meaning: Someone who loves imagining and dreaming.
Within a Sentence: He’s a dreamer at heart, always making up stories. / She’s a dreamer at heart who draws new worlds.
In Other Words: Loves to imagine. / Always dreaming.
34. Imagine the impossible
Meaning: To think of things that can’t happen in real life.
Within a Sentence: He imagined the impossible like flying pigs. / I like to imagine the impossible for fun.
In Other Words: Think of wild things. / Picture crazy ideas.
35. Cloud nine in your thoughts
Meaning: Very happy thinking about something.
Within a Sentence: She was on cloud nine in her thoughts about the trip. / He was smiling, lost on cloud nine in his head.
In Other Words: Happy dreams. / Imagining nice things.
36. Not grounded in reality
Meaning: Thinking of things far from the real world.
Within a Sentence: That plan to ride dolphins is not grounded in reality. / She’s not grounded in reality with those ideas.
In Other Words: Imagination only. / Not real.
37. Write stories in your mind
Meaning: Create stories using imagination.
Within a Sentence: He writes stories in his mind before bedtime. / She writes stories in her mind while walking.
In Other Words: Imagine stories. / Think of tales.
38. Dream-like thoughts
Meaning: Gentle or magical ideas.
Within a Sentence: The music gave her dream-like thoughts. / I had dream-like thoughts before sleep.
In Other Words: Soft imagination. / Sweet ideas.
39. Magic thinking
Meaning: Believing in imaginary fun ideas.
Within a Sentence: His magic thinking made the toys talk. / Magic thinking helped her believe the moon could sing.
In Other Words: Imagination fun. / Thinking with wonder.
40. A world of your own
Meaning: Your own imaginary place.
Within a Sentence: She was in a world of her own with dragons and fairies. / He lives in a world of his own full of candy rivers.
In Other Words: Personal fantasy. / Dream land.
41. Let your thoughts fly
Meaning: To think freely without limits.
Within a Sentence: Let your thoughts fly and design your dream house. / I let my thoughts fly and pictured a zoo on Mars.
In Other Words: Think big. / Use your imagination.
42. Picture a world
Meaning: To imagine a special place.
Within a Sentence: Picture a world where kids rule the school. / I pictured a world where pets can talk.
In Other Words: Imagine a new place. / Think of something fun.
43. See beyond the stars
Meaning: To dream of great and far ideas.
Within a Sentence: She sees beyond the stars when she draws. / He sees beyond the stars when he makes up stories.
In Other Words: Dream far. / Imagine more.
44. Stories in your head
Meaning: Stories you imagine but don’t write down.
Within a Sentence: I have stories in my head about superheroes. / She tells the stories in her head to her brother.
In Other Words: Unwritten tales. / Thought stories.
45. Think up
Meaning: To come up with an idea.
Within a Sentence: Let’s think up a fun game to play. / He thought up a new way to build a fort.
In Other Words: Make an idea. / Imagine something new.
46. Drift into a dream
Meaning: Slowly start imagining or daydreaming.
Within a Sentence: I drifted into a dream about flying cars. / She drifted into a dream while staring at the clouds.
In Other Words: Daydream softly. / Get lost in thought.
47. In your dream space
Meaning: A place in your mind where you imagine.
Within a Sentence: I go to my dream space when I write poems. / Her dream space is full of stars and sparkles.
In Other Words: Place to imagine. / Fantasy spot.
48. Make it up
Meaning: To invent a story or idea.
Within a Sentence: He made it up about the alien cat. / She made it up just to make us laugh.
In Other Words: Create from nothing. / Use imagination.
49. Dream land
Meaning: A pretend or perfect world.
Within a Sentence: His dream land has chocolate rivers. / In her dream land, it never rains.
In Other Words: Fantasy place. / Imaginary world.
50. Movie in your mind
Meaning: Seeing things play out like a film in your thoughts.
Within a Sentence: I saw a movie in my mind about robot soccer. / Her story felt like a movie in my mind.
In Other Words: Imagined clearly. / Like watching in your head.
51. Draw with your brain
Meaning: To create images mentally.
Within a Sentence: He drew the rocket ship with his brain before drawing on paper. / She drew the fairy house with her brain first.
In Other Words: Imagine before drawing. / Picture it inside.
52. Imagine up
Meaning: To create an idea or thing from imagination.
Within a Sentence: She imagined up a pet dinosaur. / I imagined up a candy robot.
In Other Words: Invent. / Think of something fun.
53. In a world of dreams
Meaning: Feeling like you’re in a magical place.
Within a Sentence: She walked like she was in a world of dreams. / He was in a world of dreams with wizards and spells.
In Other Words: Dreamy place. / Full of imagination.
54. Mind magic
Meaning: Using imagination to create something fun.
Within a Sentence: He used mind magic to picture a city in the sky. / Her story came from pure mind magic.
In Other Words: Creative thinking. / Amazing ideas.
55. See with your heart
Meaning: Imagine things with feeling, not eyes.
Within a Sentence: I saw the puppy with my heart before I met him. / She saw the future with her heart.
In Other Words: Imagine with emotion. / Picture with love.
56. Made in your mind
Meaning: Something you think of and not real.
Within a Sentence: That rainbow dog was made in my mind. / Her new toy idea was made in her mind.
In Other Words: Imagined. / Not real yet.
57. Brain painting
Meaning: Creating a picture in your mind.
Within a Sentence: I did a brain painting of my dream bedroom. / She made a brain painting of space robots.
In Other Words: Mental picture. / Visualize.
58. Mind maze
Meaning: A fun, twisting path of ideas.
Within a Sentence: My brain felt like a mind maze of ideas. / He was stuck in a mind maze thinking of an ending.
In Other Words: Creative thinking path. / Lots of thoughts.
59. Thinking sky-high
Meaning: Imagining big and far-off ideas.
Within a Sentence: She’s always thinking sky-high about the future. / I think sky-high when I write sci-fi.
In Other Words: Dreaming big. / Wild imagination.
60. Powered by dreams
Meaning: Filled with imagination and hope.
Within a Sentence: Her book was powered by dreams. / My ideas are powered by dreams of fun places.
In Other Words: Driven by imagination. / Inspired thinking.
True/False Quiz: Idioms for Imagine
- If someone is “off in la-la land,” they are probably paying close attention.
True / False - Saying “he has a wild imagination” means he thinks of fun or strange ideas.
True / False - “A figment of your imagination” means something is real and true.
True / False - If your friend “lets her imagination run wild,” she’s thinking of boring facts only.
True / False - When you “paint a picture with words,” you help others see what you imagine.
True / False - “Living in a dream world” means someone is thinking about things that may not happen.
True / False - If someone “creates from thin air,” they copied someone else’s idea.
True / False - “Lost in thought” means a person is deeply thinking or daydreaming.
True / False - When your brother is “building castles in the air,” he’s making real sandcastles.
True / False - “Reach for the stars” means you should only think of small goals.
True / False - “Dream land” is another way to say someone is in an imaginary place.
True / False - “Movie in your mind” means imagining things like a film.
True / False - If your friend “spins a tale,” they are making up a story.
True / False - “Think outside the box” means to use your imagination and be creative.
True / False - “See it in your head” means you’re using your imagination.
True / False
Answer Key
- False
- True
- False
- False
- True
- True
- False
- True
- False
- False
- True
- True
- True
- True
- True
Scoring Guide
- 15 Correct Answers: Idioms Master! You really understand imagination idioms.
- 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 imagination idioms together!
Conclusion
Imagination helps us think of things that are fun, new, or even silly. We can imagine anything: a flying bus, a city under the sea, or talking animals. Idioms make it easier and more interesting to talk about these ideas.
When we say things like “off in la-la land” or “paint a picture with words,” we are using special ways to describe imagination. These idioms are fun and can make your stories or talks more exciting. Try using them when you write or speak. It’s a great way to show what’s on your mind.
