I. NOUN USES
(~s)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
Please look at category 45 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1.
You refer to someone’s ~ when talking about their thoughts. For example, if you say that something is in your ~, you mean that you are thinking about it, and if you say that something is at the back of your ~, you mean that you are aware of it, although you are not thinking about it very much.
I’m trying to clear my ~ of all this...
There was no doubt in his ~ that the man was serious...
I put what happened during that game to the back of my ~...
He spent the next hour going over the trial in his ~...
= head
N-COUNT: with poss
2.
Your ~ is your ability to think and reason.
You have a good ~...
Studying stretched my ~ and got me thinking about things.
= intellect
N-COUNT: supp N
3.
If you have a particular type of ~, you have a particular way of thinking which is part of your character, or a result of your education or professional training.
Andrew, you have a very suspicious ~...
The key to his success is his logical ~.
...an American writer who has researched the criminal ~.
N-COUNT: usu sing, with supp
4.
You can refer to someone as a particular kind of ~ as a way of saying that they are clever, intelligent, or imaginative.
She moved to London, meeting some of the best ~s of her time.
= intellect
N-COUNT: with supp
5.
see also ~ed , -~ed , frame of ~ , state of ~
6.
If you tell someone to bear something in ~ or to keep something in ~, you are re~ing or warning them about something important which they should remember.
Bear in ~ that petrol stations are scarce in the more remote areas...
I should not be surprised about some of her comments, bearing in ~ the party she belongs to.
PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR that, PHR n
7.
If something brings another thing to ~ or calls another thing to ~, it makes you think of that other thing, usually because it is similar in some way.
That brings to ~ a wonderful poem by Riokin...
PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR n
8.
If you cast your ~ back to a time in the past, you think about what happened then.
Cast your ~ back to 1978, when Forest won the title.
PHRASE: V and N inflect, oft PHR to n
9.
If you close your ~ to something, you deliberately do not think about it or pay attention to it.
She has closed her ~ to last year’s traumas.
PHRASE: V and N inflect, usu PHR to n
10.
If you change your ~, or if someone or something changes your ~, you change a decision you have made or an opinion that you had.
I was going to vote for him, but I changed my ~ and voted for Reagan...
It would be impossible to change his ~.
PHRASE: V and N inflect
11.
If something comes to ~ or springs to ~, you think of it without making any effort.
Integrity and honesty are words that spring to ~ when talking of the man.
PHRASE: V inflects
12.
If you say that an idea or possibility never crossed your ~, you mean that you did not think of it.
It had never crossed his ~ that there might be a problem...
PHRASE: V and N inflect, oft with brd-neg, oft it PHR that
13.
If you see something in your ~’s eye, you imagine it and have a clear picture of it in your ~.
In his ~’s eye, he can imagine the effect he’s having.
PHRASE: PHR after v, PHR with cl
14.
If you have a ~ to do something, you want, intend, or choose to do it.
The captain of the guard looked as if he had a ~ to challenge them...
PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR inf
15.
If you say that you have a good ~ to do something or have half a ~ to do it, you are threatening or announcing that you have a strong desire to do it, although you probably will not do it.
He raged on about how he had a good ~ to resign.
PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR inf
16.
If you ask someone what they have in ~, you want to know in more detail about an idea or wish they have.
‘Maybe we could celebrate tonight.’—‘What did you have in ~?’
PHRASE: V inflects
17.
If you have it in ~ to do something, you intend or want to do it.
Collins Harvill had it in ~ to publish a short volume about Pasternak.
PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR inf
18.
If you do something with a particular thing in ~, you do it with that thing as your aim or as the reason or basis for your action.
These families need support. With this in ~ a group of 35 specialists met last weekend.
PHRASE: PHR after v, PHR with cl
19.
If you say that something such as an illness is all in the ~, you mean that it relates to someone’s feelings or attitude, rather than having any physical cause.
It could be a virus, or it could be all in the ~.
PHRASE: v-link PHR
20.
If you know your own ~, you are sure about your opinions, and are not easily influenced by other people.
PHRASE: V and N inflect
21.
If you say that someone is losing their ~, you mean that they are becoming mad.
Sometimes I feel I’m losing my ~.
PHRASE: V and N inflect
22.
If you make up your ~ or make your ~ up, you decide which of a number of possible things you will have or do.
Once he made up his ~ to do something, there was no stopping him...
She said her ~ was made up.
= decide
PHRASE: V and N inflect, oft PHR to-inf
23.
You can use the expression ~ 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 ~.
Good health is simply a case of ~ over matter.
PHRASE: oft n prep PHR
24.
If a number of people are of one ~, of like ~, or of the same ~, they all agree about something.
Contact with other disabled yachtsmen of like ~ would be helpful...
The food companies are not of one ~ about these new regulations.
PHRASE: v-link PHR
25.
If you say that something that happens is a load off your ~ or a weight off your ~, you mean that it causes you to stop worrying, for example because it solves a problem that you had.
PHRASE: ~ inflects, v-link PHR
26.
If something is on your ~, you are worried or concerned about it and think about it a lot.
This game has been on my ~ all week...
I just forgot. I’ve had a lot on my ~.
PHRASE: N inflects, v-link PHR, PHR after v
27.
If your ~ is on something or you have your ~ on something, you are thinking about that thing.
At school I was always in trouble–my ~ was never on my work.
PHRASE: V and N inflect, PHR n/-ing
28.
If you have an open ~, you avoid forming an opinion or making a decision until you know all the facts.
It’s hard to see it any other way, though I’m trying to keep an open ~.
PHRASE: N inflects, PHR after v
29.
If something opens your ~ to new ideas or experiences, it makes you more willing to accept them or try them.
She also stimulated his curiosity and opened his ~ to other cultures.
PHRASE: V and N inflect, usu PHR to n
30.
If you say that someone is out of their ~, you mean that they are mad or very foolish. (INFORMAL)
What are you doing? Are you out of your ~?
= crazy
PHRASE: N inflects, v-link PHR disapproval
31.
If you say that someone is out of their ~ with a feeling such as worry or fear, you are emphasizing that they are extremely worried or afraid. (INFORMAL)
PHRASE: N inflects, v-link PHR, usu PHR with n emphasis
32.
If you say that someone is, for example, bored out of their ~, scared out of their ~, or stoned out of their ~, you are emphasizing that they are extremely bored, scared, or affected by drugs. (INFORMAL)
PHRASE: N inflects, v-link PHR emphasis
33.
If you put your ~ to something, you start making an effort to do it.
You could do fine in the world if you put your ~ to it.
PHRASE: V and N inflect, PHR n
34.
If something puts you in ~ of something else, it re~s you of it because it is similar to it or is associated with it.
This put me in ~ of something Patrick said many years ago.
= re~
PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n
35.
If you can read someone’s ~, you know what they are thinking without them saying anything.
Don’t expect others to read your ~.
PHRASE: V and N inflect
36.
To put someone’s ~ at rest or set their ~ at rest means to stop them worrying about something.
It may be advisable to have a blood test to put your ~ at rest...
PHRASE: V and N inflect
37.
If you say that nobody in their right ~ 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.
No one in her right ~ would make such a major purchase without asking questions.
PHRASE: with brd-neg, n PHR emphasis
38.
If you set your ~ on something or have your ~ set on it, you are determined to do it or obtain it.
When my wife sets her ~ on something, she invariably finds a way to achieve it.
PHRASE: V and N inflect, PHR n
39.
If something slips your ~, you forget it.
I was going to mention it, but it slipped my ~.
PHRASE: V and N inflect
40.
If you speak your ~, you say firmly and honestly what you think about a situation, even if this may offend or upset people.
Martina Navratilova has never been afraid to speak her ~.
PHRASE: V and N inflect
41.
If something sticks in your ~, it remains firmly in your memory.
I’ve always been fond of poetry and one piece has always stuck in my ~.
PHRASE: V and N inflect
42.
If something takes your ~ off a problem or unpleasant situation, it helps you to forget about it for a while.
‘How about a game of tennis?’ suggested Alan. ‘That’ll take your ~ off things.’
PHRASE: V and N inflect, PHR n
43.
You say or write to my ~ to indicate that the statement you are making is your own opinion.
There are scenes in this play which to my ~ are incredibly violent.
PHRASE: PHR with cl
44.
If you are in two ~s, you are uncertain about what to do, especially when you have to choose between two courses of action. The expression of two ~s is also used, especially in American English.
Like many parents, I am in two ~s about school uniforms...
= unsure, undecided
PHRASE: usu v-link PHR, oft PHR about n, PHR whether
45.
to give someone a piece of your ~: see piece
II. VERB USES
(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.
Please look at category 18 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1.
If you do not ~ something, you are not annoyed or bothered by it.
I don’t ~ the noise during the day...
Do you ~ being alone?...
I hope you don’t ~ me calling in like this, without an appointment...
It involved a little extra work, but nobody seemed to ~.
VERB: usu with brd-neg, V n/-ing, V n/-ing, V n -ing, V
2.
You use ~ in the expressions ‘do you ~?’ and ‘would you ~?’ as a polite way of asking permission or asking someone to do something.
Do you ~ if I ask you one more thing?...
Would you ~ waiting outside for a moment?...
‘Would you like me to read that for you?’—‘If you wouldn’t ~, please.’
VERB: V if, V -ing, V politeness
3.
If someone does not ~ what happens or what something is like, they do not have a strong preference for any particular thing.
I don’t ~ what we play, really...
VERB: with brd-neg, V wh
4.
If you tell someone to ~ something, you are warning them to be careful not to hurt themselves or other people, or damage something. (BRIT; in AM, usually use watch )
Mind that bike!
= watch
VERB: usu imper, V n
5.
You use ~ when you are re~ing someone to do something or telling them to be careful not to do something. (BRIT; in AM, usually use make sure , take care )
Mind you don’t burn those sausages.
= watch
VERB: only imper, V that
6.
If you ~ a child or something such as a shop or luggage, you look after it, usually while the person who owns it or is usually responsible for it is somewhere else. (BRIT; in AM, usually use take care of , watch )
Jim Coulters will ~ the store while I’m away.
VERB: V n
7.
If you are offered something or offered a choice and you say ‘I don’t ~’, you are saying politely that you will be happy with any of the things offered. (BRIT)
‘Which one of these do you want?’—‘I don’t ~.’
CONVENTION formulae
8.
You say ‘Don’t ~ me’ to apologize for your presence when you think that it might embarrass someone, and to tell them to carry on with what they were doing or about to do.
CONVENTION
9.
You use don’t ~ in expressions such as don’t ~ him or don’t ~ them to apologize for someone else’s behaviour when you think it might have offended the person you are speaking to.
Don’t ~ the old lady. She’s getting senile.
PHRASE: PHR n
10.
Some people say ‘Mind how you go’ when they are saying goodbye to someone who is leaving. (BRIT INFORMAL)
= take care
CONVENTION formulae
11.
People use the expression if you don’t ~ when they are rejecting an offer or saying that they do not want to do something, especially when they are annoyed.
‘Sit down.’—‘I prefer standing for a while, if you don’t ~.’...
PHRASE: PHR with cl feelings
12.
You use ~ you to emphasize a piece of information that you are adding, especially when the new information explains what you have said or contrasts with it. Some people use ~ in a similar way.
They pay full rates. Mind you, they can afford it...
You need a bit of cold water in there to make it comfortable. Not too cold, ~.
PHRASE: PHR with cl emphasis
13.
You say never ~ when you are emphasizing that something is not serious or important, especially when someone is upset about it or is saying sorry to you.
CONVENTION emphasis
14.
You use never ~ to tell someone that they need not do something or worry about something, because it is not important or because you will do it yourself.
‘Was his name David?’—‘No I don’t think it was, but never ~, go on.’...
Dorothy, come on. Never ~ your shoes. They’ll soon dry off...
‘Fewter didn’t seem to think so.’—‘Never ~ what Fewter said.’
PHRASE: oft PHR n/wh
15.
You use never ~ after a statement, often a negative one, to indicate that the statement is even more true of the person, thing, or situation that you are going to mention next.
I’m not going to believe it myself, never ~ convince anyone else...
PHRASE emphasis
16.
You use never you ~ to tell someone not to ask about something because it is not their concern or they should not know about it. (SPOKEN)
‘Where is it?’—‘Never you ~.’
CONVENTION
17.
If you say that you wouldn’t ~ something, you mean that you would quite like it.
I wouldn’t ~ a coffee...
PHRASE: PHR n/-ing
18.
to ~ your own business: see business