If you are reading this article, you’ve probably read the first part of “Mind Idioms” and are back for more. That’s great! It means your brain and mind are hungry for new knowledge, and we’ve prepared something to satisfy them both. Read on to boost your vocabulary and practice the idioms from this article.

Mind games

I always feel like I need to read my girlfriend’s mind. She doesn’t really tell me what she thinks. She probably wants to look mysterious and unpredictable to me, thinking those two things would blow my mind, but I have to speak my mind – that sort of behavior is less than attractive to me. I’m not a big fan of mind games, and whenever she crosses my mind these days, I can’t help but wonder if we’re going to last. I’m afraid if two people are not of like mind, they don’t have much in common, and that’s kind of concerning. I guess an honest talk with her will put my mind at rest…

• to read one’s mind – to know what someone is thinking
• to blow one’s mind – if something blows your mind, you are excited/surprised by it
• to speak one’s mind – to say exactly what one thinks
• mind game – a psychological tactic used to manipulate or intimidate
• to cross one’s mind – if an idea crosses your mind, you think about it for a short time
• to be of like mind / to be like-minded – when two people are of like mind, they share the same opinions, interests, and often agree with each other
• to put one’s mind at rest – to stop someone worrying about something

When things slip your mind…

I’ve been a little too forgetful lately. Things slip my mind so easily that I’ve started to worry. Not only am I absent-minded but I also seem to be unable to take my mind off the fact. I keep thinking I might have a problem, and nothing can put my mind at rest. So, I’ve decided to see a doctor to discuss my memory problems. Mind you it’s just a little consultation to hopefully hear that nothing is seriously wrong with me and I should close my mind to the possibility of being ill. In my mind, I’ve been going over the consultation scheduled for next week, and I hope everything will be OK. I wish the doctor wouldn’t say I’ve got a one-track mind…

• to slip one’s mind – if something slips your mind, you forget it
• absent-minded – forgetful, inattentive
• to take one’s mind off something – to stop you thinking/worrying about something
• mind you – used when you want to make what you have just said less strong
• to close one’s mind to something – to stop thinking/paying attention to something
• to go over something in one’s mind – to think about something to understand it or make a decision
• one-track mind – a mind limited to only one line of thought or action

Practice

Complete the sentences. The answer key is below the image.

1. Humans cannot literally ___ the minds of others, but they can effectively intuit (= understand or work out by instinct) people’s thoughts and feelings.
2. The good thing about running is that it takes my mind ___ any problems I have.
3. Her birthday completely ___ my mind. I forgot all about it!
4. Don’t ___ your mind to new ideas.
5. His advice wasn’t very helpful. I’m not criticizing him, ___ you.
6. Did it ever ___ your mind that I could be right?
7. She is a football fan who started a magazine for ___ women.
8. The music really ___ my mind. It was awesome!
9. I wish there were some way I could put your mind at ___.
10. I’ve been ___ over our exchange in my mind, and I still don’t know what I said to upset her so much.

Answer key: 1. read 2. off 3. slipped 4. close 5. mind 6. cross 7. like-minded 8. blew 9. rest 10. going

• Blog