Our minds are busy all the time. We think about school, friends, family, and so much more. Because of this, people have made special sayings about the mind over many years. These sayings are called idioms. They help us talk about thoughts and feelings in fun and simple ways.
In this article, you will learn some interesting idioms about the mind. Each one has a meaning that can help you describe what you are thinking or feeling. You will also get a chance to test yourself with a short quiz. Let’s explore these mind idioms and see how they fit into everyday life.
Idioms about Mind
1. Blow your mind
Meaning: To surprise or amaze someone
Sample Sentences: The magic show will blow your mind. / That new video game blew my mind!
Other Way to Say: Surprise a lot / Totally amaze
2. Pick someone’s brain
Meaning: Ask someone for ideas or advice
Sample Sentences: I want to pick your brain about science projects. / She picked her teacher’s brain for writing tips.
Other Way to Say: Ask for help / Get advice
3. A mind of its own
Meaning: Acting on its own, not controlled
Sample Sentences: My robot has a mind of its own. / This pencil keeps rolling away like it has a mind of its own.
Other Way to Say: Out of control / Acting alone
4. Bear in mind
Meaning: Remember something important
Sample Sentences: Bear in mind the rules when playing the game. / Please bear in mind that the test is tomorrow.
Other Way to Say: Keep in mind / Don’t forget
5. Change your mind
Meaning: Decide something different
Sample Sentences: I changed my mind about joining the club. / She changed her mind after hearing more details.
Other Way to Say: Pick something else / Switch choice
6. In two minds
Meaning: Not sure what to choose
Sample Sentences: I’m in two minds about what snack to get. / He was in two minds about joining the team.
Other Way to Say: Can’t decide / Not sure
7. Slip your mind
Meaning: Forget something
Sample Sentences: I meant to call you, but it slipped my mind. / It slipped my mind to do my homework.
Other Way to Say: Forgot / Didn’t remember
8. Cross your mind
Meaning: Suddenly think of something
Sample Sentences: It just crossed my mind to bring an umbrella. / Did it ever cross your mind to ask first?
Other Way to Say: Pop into your head / Think of quickly
9. Peace of mind
Meaning: Feeling calm and not worried
Sample Sentences: Wearing a seatbelt gives me peace of mind. / I study hard for peace of mind before a test.
Other Way to Say: Feel safe / Feel calm
10. Make up your mind
Meaning: Decide what you want
Sample Sentences: Make up your mind before we leave. / She couldn’t make up her mind about the movie.
Other Way to Say: Decide / Choose
11. Open-minded
Meaning: Ready to listen to new ideas
Sample Sentences: She is open-minded about trying new foods. / Be open-minded when we share our thoughts.
Other Way to Say: Willing to listen / Accept new ideas
12. Close-minded
Meaning: Not willing to hear new thoughts
Sample Sentences: He was close-minded about the new rule. / Don’t be close-minded about new games.
Other Way to Say: Not listening / Blocked to change
13. Mind your own business
Meaning: Don’t get involved in others’ matters
Sample Sentences: Mind your own business, it’s not your fight. / He told her to mind her own business.
Other Way to Say: Stay out / Don’t interfere
14. Out of your mind
Meaning: Acting strangely or being very silly
Sample Sentences: Are you out of your mind jumping in the snow barefoot? / He acted like he was out of his mind after too much sugar.
Other Way to Say: Crazy / Silly
15. Speak your mind
Meaning: Say what you really think
Sample Sentences: She always speaks her mind, even if others disagree. / I like when friends speak their minds kindly.
Other Way to Say: Say your thoughts / Be honest
16. Keep in mind
Meaning: Remember something when thinking
Sample Sentences: Keep in mind the game ends at 4. / Please keep in mind your tone matters.
Other Way to Say: Don’t forget / Remember this
17. Mind over matter
Meaning: Be strong and ignore problems
Sample Sentences: Running a race is all about mind over matter. / Use mind over matter to push through the hard part.
Other Way to Say: Think strong / Power through
18. Mind-blowing
Meaning: Very exciting or surprising
Sample Sentences: That science trick was mind-blowing! / The movie’s ending was mind-blowing.
Other Way to Say: Amazing / Unbelievable
19. Frame of mind
Meaning: Mood or way of thinking
Sample Sentences: I’m not in the right frame of mind to play now. / She was in a good frame of mind before the test.
Other Way to Say: Mood / Feeling
20. Be in your own world
Meaning: Thinking deeply or not paying attention
Sample Sentences: He didn’t hear me; he was in his own world. / I was in my own world and missed the bus stop.
Other Way to Say: Zoned out / Not noticing things
21. Have a lot on your mind
Meaning: Worrying or thinking about many things
Sample Sentences: She has a lot on her mind with the big test coming. / I couldn’t sleep because I had a lot on my mind.
Other Way to Say: Thinking hard / Feeling worried
22. Out of sight, out of mind
Meaning: Forget something not in front of you
Sample Sentences: I forgot my old toy out of sight, out of mind. / When summer ends, school becomes out of mind.
Other Way to Say: Easy to forget / Gone from memory
23. Mind your manners
Meaning: Behave properly
Sample Sentences: Remember to mind your manners at dinner. / She always minds her manners in class.
Other Way to Say: Be polite / Show respect
24. Take your mind off
Meaning: Stop thinking about something
Sample Sentences: Let’s play a game to take your mind off the test. / Watching cartoons helped take my mind off being sick.
Other Way to Say: Distract / Feel better
25. Change of mind
Meaning: Decide something different later
Sample Sentences: I had a change of mind and wore the red shirt. / He had a change of mind about staying home.
Other Way to Say: New choice / Thought again
26. Give someone a piece of your mind
Meaning: Speak angrily to someone
Sample Sentences: She gave him a piece of her mind after the mess. / Mom gave me a piece of her mind for being rude.
Other Way to Say: Scold / Tell off
27. Have a one-track mind
Meaning: Only thinking about one thing
Sample Sentences: He has a one-track mind about video games. / All day, she had a one-track mind for candy.
Other Way to Say: Focused only on one thing / Stuck on it
28. Keep your mind on something
Meaning: Stay focused
Sample Sentences: Keep your mind on your homework. / I had to keep my mind on the math test.
Other Way to Say: Focus / Don’t get distracted
29. Put your mind to it
Meaning: Try hard and focus
Sample Sentences: You can do it if you put your mind to it. / He put his mind to building the model.
Other Way to Say: Work hard / Give it your best
30. Go out of your mind
Meaning: Feel stressed or very upset
Sample Sentences: I was going out of my mind waiting. / She went out of her mind when the lights went out.
Other Way to Say: Felt crazy / Got upset
31. Read someone’s mind
Meaning: Know what someone is thinking
Sample Sentences: You got me my favorite snack did you read my mind? / He read her mind and passed the ball.
Other Way to Say: Guess right / Know what someone thinks
32. In the back of your mind
Meaning: Something you’re quietly thinking about
Sample Sentences: I kept the idea in the back of my mind all day. / In the back of her mind, she worried about her grades.
Other Way to Say: Quiet worry / Hidden thought
33. Out of your head
Meaning: Stop thinking about something
Sample Sentences: I can’t get that song out of my head. / Try to get the worry out of your head.
Other Way to Say: Forget it / Let it go
34. Wrap your mind around it
Meaning: Understand something hard
Sample Sentences: I can’t wrap my mind around this big math problem. / It’s hard to wrap your mind around such news.
Other Way to Say: Understand / Figure it out
35. Peaceful state of mind
Meaning: Feeling calm and quiet
Sample Sentences: Sitting by the lake gave me a peaceful state of mind. / Yoga helps her keep a peaceful state of mind.
Other Way to Say: Calm inside / Quiet feeling
36. Train of thought
Meaning: The line of thinking or idea path
Sample Sentences: I lost my train of thought when you interrupted. / He stayed on his train of thought while writing.
Other Way to Say: Thought path / Idea flow
37. Broaden your mind
Meaning: Learn more and think in new ways
Sample Sentences: Traveling can broaden your mind. / Reading books helps broaden your mind.
Other Way to Say: Learn more / Think bigger
38. Narrow-minded
Meaning: Unwilling to accept different ideas
Sample Sentences: He’s too narrow-minded to try something new. / Don’t be narrow-minded about other people’s ideas.
Other Way to Say: Not open / Won’t listen
39. Bright mind
Meaning: Smart and quick thinker
Sample Sentences: She has a bright mind for science. / A bright mind helps him solve puzzles fast.
Other Way to Say: Smart / Quick thinker
40. Have something in mind
Meaning: Have an idea or plan
Sample Sentences: I have something in mind for your gift. / What do you have in mind for lunch?
Other Way to Say: Plan / Idea
41. Dull mind
Meaning: A slow or lazy way of thinking
Sample Sentences: A dull mind gets bored easily. / His dull mind didn’t catch the joke.
Other Way to Say: Not sharp / Slow thinker
42. Speak off the top of your mind
Meaning: Say something without thinking too much
Sample Sentences: He spoke off the top of his mind and hurt feelings. / She said it off the top of her mind, then felt bad.
Other Way to Say: Blurt / Say without thinking
43. Sharp mind
Meaning: A smart and alert brain
Sample Sentences: Grandma still has a sharp mind. / You need a sharp mind to win at chess.
Other Way to Say: Smart / Quick thinker
44. Open your mind
Meaning: Let new thoughts in
Sample Sentences: Try to open your mind to new music. / He opened his mind and made a new friend.
Other Way to Say: Be accepting / Try new ideas
45. Give your mind a break
Meaning: Rest your brain
Sample Sentences: Take a nap to give your mind a break. / I play outside to give my mind a break.
Other Way to Say: Rest / Relax
46. Keep an open mind
Meaning: Be ready to hear or try new things
Sample Sentences: Keep an open mind about the new rules. / I kept an open mind and liked the book.
Other Way to Say: Be ready / Stay open
47. Make up your own mind
Meaning: Decide for yourself
Sample Sentences: You should make up your own mind, not copy others. / I made up my own mind to join art club.
Other Way to Say: Decide by yourself / Choose alone
48. Get your mind off it
Meaning: Stop thinking about something
Sample Sentences: Play with us to get your mind off it. / I watched cartoons to get my mind off the test.
Other Way to Say: Distract / Feel better
49. Hard to get your mind around
Meaning: Difficult to understand
Sample Sentences: That math is hard to get my mind around. / It’s hard to get my mind around that news.
Other Way to Say: Tough to understand / Confusing
50. Mind like a sponge
Meaning: Learns fast and remembers a lot
Sample Sentences: Kids have a mind like a sponge. / He remembered it all his mind’s like a sponge!
Other Way to Say: Learns fast / Soaks up info
51. Fix your mind on something
Meaning: Focus hard on one thing
Sample Sentences: Fix your mind on the test now. / She fixed her mind on the prize.
Other Way to Say: Focus / Stay on it
52. Out of sight, out of mind
Meaning: Easy to forget when something’s not seen
Sample Sentences: I forgot my book out of sight, out of mind. / That toy broke, and I stopped missing it.
Other Way to Say: Easy to forget / Not thinking of it
53. Weigh on your mind
Meaning: Worry you or make you think hard
Sample Sentences: That fight is weighing on my mind. / Her words really weighed on my mind.
Other Way to Say: Trouble you / Keep thinking
54. Mind-reader
Meaning: Someone who seems to know what you’re thinking
Sample Sentences: You brought candy? Are you a mind-reader? / He guessed my idea like a mind-reader.
Other Way to Say: Great guesser / Knows my thoughts
55. Put your mind at ease
Meaning: Help someone stop worrying
Sample Sentences: The teacher put my mind at ease before the quiz. / A hug can put your mind at ease.
Other Way to Say: Calm down / Feel safe
Multiple Choice Questions: Idioms about Mind
1. What does “change your mind” mean?
A) Take a test again
B) Decide something different
C) Forget what you were doing
2. If someone says “It slipped my mind,” what happened?
A) They remembered too late
B) They wrote it down
C) They forgot
3. What does it mean if you “speak your mind”?
A) You talk in your sleep
B) You say what you really think
C) You sing loudly
4. What does “out of your mind” mean?
A) Very sleepy
B) Very silly or acting strange
C) Very focused
5. If something “blows your mind,” what does that mean?
A) It makes you bored
B) It’s surprising or amazing
C) It’s hard to see
6. What does “keep something in mind” mean?
A) To throw it away
B) To ignore it
C) To remember it
7. If someone says “I lost my train of thought,” what happened?
A) They couldn’t catch the bus
B) They forgot what they were saying
C) They got on the wrong train
8. If you “read someone’s mind,” what do you do?
A) Look at their brain
B) Take their book
C) Know what they are thinking
9. What does “have a one-track mind” mean?
A) You are thinking only about one thing
B) You ride your bike on one path
C) You do many things at once
10. What does “put your mind to it” mean?
A) Think about it later
B) Try hard and focus
C) Let someone else do it
11. What does “peace of mind” mean?
A) You are sleepy
B) You feel calm and safe
C) You are in a fight
12. If someone says “give your mind a break,” what should you do?
A) Study harder
B) Take a rest
C) Watch more news
Answer Key
- B) Decide something different
- C) They forgot
- B) You say what you really think
- B) Very silly or acting strange
- B) It’s surprising or amazing
- C) To remember it
- B) They forgot what they were saying
- C) Know what they are thinking
- A) You are thinking only about one thing
- B) Try hard and focus
- B) You feel calm and safe
- B) Take a rest
Scoring Guide
- 12 Correct Answers: Love Idioms About the Mind Master!
You really understand how these idioms work and what they mean. - 8–11 Correct Answers: Well on your way to understanding idioms about the mind.
Great job! Just a little more practice and you’ll be a pro. - 4–7 Correct Answers: Room for improvement, but you’re getting there!
Keep practicing and review the idioms again. - 0–3 Correct Answers: Let’s explore idioms about the mind together.
That’s okay! Keep learning, and these phrases will start to make sense.
Conclusion
Learning idioms about the mind helps you talk about your thoughts and feelings in fun ways. These sayings make it easier to share ideas and understand others. You might even hear them in school, at home, or while watching TV.
The more you practice using idioms, the more natural they will feel. Keep these mind idioms in your memory, and you will find many chances to use them in your everyday life.
