Collins Cobuild Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

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mind

1. [ma͟ɪnd]

   NOUN USES

   ♦

   minds

   (Please look at category 45 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.)

   1. N-COUNT: with poss You refer to someone's mind when talking about their thoughts. For example, if you say that something is in your mind, you mean that you are thinking about it, and if you say that something is at the back of your mind, you mean that you are aware of it, although you are not thinking about it very much.

   2. N-COUNT: supp N Your mind is your ability to think and reason.

   3. N-COUNT: usu sing, with supp If you have a particular type of mind, you have a particular way of thinking which is part of your character, or a result of your education or professional training.

   4. N-COUNT: with supp You can refer to someone as a particular kind of mind as a way of saying that they are clever, intelligent, or imaginative.

   5. → See also minded, -minded, frame of mind, state of mind

   6. PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR that, PHR n If you tell someone to bear something in mind or to keep something in mind, you are reminding or warning them about something important which they should remember.

   7. PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR n If something brings another thing to mind or calls another thing to mind, it makes you think of that other thing, usually because it is similar in some way.

   8. PHRASE: V and N inflect, oft PHR to n If you cast your mind back to a time in the past, you think about what happened then.

   9. PHRASE: V and N inflect, usu PHR to n If you close your mind to something, you deliberately do not think about it or pay attention to it.

   10. PHRASE: V and N inflect If you change your mind, or if someone or something changes your mind, you change a decision you have made or an opinion that you had.

   11. PHRASE: V inflects If something comes to mind or springs to mind, you think of it without making any effort.

   12. PHRASE: V and N inflect, oft with brd-neg, oft it PHR that If you say that an idea or possibility never crossed your mind, you mean that you did not think of it.

   13. PHRASE: PHR after v, PHR with cl If you see something in your mind's eye, you imagine it and have a clear picture of it in your mind.

   14. PHRASE: V inflects, oft PHR inf If you have a mind to do something, you want, intend, or choose to do it.

   15. PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR inf If you say that you have a good mind to do something or have half a mind to do it, you are threatening or announcing that you have a strong desire to do it, although you probably will not do it.

   16. PHRASE: V inflects If you ask someone what they have in mind, you want to know in more detail about an idea or wish they have.

   17. PHRASE: V inflects, usu PHR inf If you have it in mind to do something, you intend or want to do it.

   18. PHRASE: PHR after v, PHR with cl If you do something with a particular thing in mind, you do it with that thing as your aim or as the reason or basis for your action.

   19. PHRASE: v-link PHR If you say that something such as an illness is all in the mind, you mean that it relates to someone's feelings or attitude, rather than having any physical cause.

   20. PHRASE: V and N inflect If you know your own mind, you are sure about your opinions, and are not easily influenced by other people.

   21. PHRASE: V and N inflect If you say that someone is losing their mind, you mean that they are becoming mad.

   22. PHRASE: V and N inflect, oft PHR to-inf If you make up your mind or make your mind up, you decide which of a number of possible things you will have or do.

   23. PHRASE: oft n prep PHR You can use the expression mind 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 mind.

   24. PHRASE: v-link PHR If a number of people are of one mind, of like mind, or of the same mind, they all agree about something.

   25. PHRASE: mind inflects, v-link PHR If you say that something that happens is a load off your mind or a weight off your mind, you mean that it causes you to stop worrying, for example because it solves a problem that you had.

   26. PHRASE: N inflects, v-link PHR, PHR after v If something is on your mind, you are worried or concerned about it and think about it a lot.

   27. PHRASE: V and N inflect, PHR n/-ing If your mind is on something or you have your mind on something, you are thinking about that thing.

   28. PHRASE: N inflects, PHR after v If you have an open mind, you avoid forming an opinion or making a decision until you know all the facts.

   29. PHRASE: V and N inflect, usu PHR to n If something opens your mind to new ideas or experiences, it makes you more willing to accept them or try them.

   30. PHRASE: N inflects, v-link PHR (disapproval) If you say that someone is out of their mind, you mean that they are mad or very foolish. [INFORMAL]

   31. PHRASE: N inflects, v-link PHR, usu PHR with n (emphasis) If you say that someone is out of their mind with a feeling such as worry or fear, you are emphasizing that they are extremely worried or afraid. [INFORMAL]

   32. PHRASE: N inflects, v-link PHR (emphasis) If you say that someone is, for example, bored out of their mind, scared out of their mind, or stoned out of their mind, you are emphasizing that they are extremely bored, scared, or affected by drugs. [INFORMAL]

   33. PHRASE: V and N inflect, PHR n If you put your mind to something, you start making an effort to do it.

   34. PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n If something puts you in mind of something else, it reminds you of it because it is similar to it or is associated with it.

   35. PHRASE: V and N inflect If you can read someone's mind, you know what they are thinking without them saying anything.

   36. PHRASE: V and N inflect To put someone's mind at rest or set their mind at rest means to stop them worrying about something.

   37. PHRASE: with brd-neg, n PHR (emphasis) If you say that nobody in their right mind 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.

   38. PHRASE: V and N inflect, PHR n If you set your mind on something or have your mind set on it, you are determined to do it or obtain it.

   39. PHRASE: V and N inflect If something slips your mind, you forget it.

   40. PHRASE: V and N inflect If you speak your mind, you say firmly and honestly what you think about a situation, even if this may offend or upset people.

   41. PHRASE: V and N inflect If something sticks in your mind, it remains firmly in your memory.

   42. PHRASE: V and N inflect, PHR n If something takes your mind off a problem or unpleasant situation, it helps you to forget about it for a while.

   43. PHRASE: PHR with cl You say or write to my mind to indicate that the statement you are making is your own opinion.

   44. PHRASE: usu v-link PHR, oft PHR about n, PHR whether If you are in two minds, you are uncertain about what to do, especially when you have to choose between two courses of action. The expression of two minds is also used, especially in American English.

   45. to give someone a piece of your mind → see piece

       presence of mind → see presence

       out of sight, out of mind → see sight

2. [ma͟ɪnd]

   VERB USES

   ♦♦♦

   minds, minding, minded

   (Please look at category 21 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.)

   1. VERB: usu with brd-neg If you do not mind something, you are not annoyed or bothered by it.

   2. VERB (politeness) You use mind in the expressions `do you mind?' and `would you mind?' as a polite way of asking permission or asking someone to do something.

   3. VERB: with brd-neg If someone does not mind what happens or what something is like, they do not have a strong preference for any particular thing.

   4. VERB: usu imper If you tell someone to mind something, you are warning them to be careful not to hurt themselves or other people, or damage something. [BRIT]

      (in AM, usually use watch)

   5. VERB: only imper You use mind when you are reminding someone to do something or telling them to be careful not to do something. [BRIT]

      (in AM, usually use make sure, take care)

   6. VERB If you mind 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)

   7. CONVENTION (formulae) If you are offered something or offered a choice and you say `I don't mind', you are saying politely that you will be happy with any of the things offered. [BRIT]

   8. CONVENTION (formulae) You can say `I don't mind if I do' as a way of accepting something that someone has offered you, especially food or drink. [OLD-FASHIONED]

   9. CONVENTION You say `Don't mind 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.

   10. PHRASE: PHR n You use don't mind in expressions such as don't mind him or don't mind them to apologize for someone else's behaviour when you think it might have offended the person you are speaking to.

   11. CONVENTION (formulae) Some people say `Mind how you go' when they are saying goodbye to someone who is leaving. [BRIT, INFORMAL]

   12. PHRASE: PHR with cl (feelings) People use the expression if you don't mind when they are rejecting an offer or saying that they do not want to do something, especially when they are annoyed.

   13. PHRASE: PHR with cl (emphasis) You use mind 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 mind in a similar way.

   14. PHRASE If you tell someone, especially a child, to mind their language, mind their tongue, or mind their manners, you are telling them to speak or behave properly and politely.

   15. CONVENTION (emphasis) You say never mind when you are emphasizing that something is not serious or important, especially when someone is upset about it or is saying sorry to you.

   16. PHRASE: oft PHR n/wh You use never mind 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.

   17. PHR-CONJ-COORD (emphasis) You use never mind 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.

   18. CONVENTION You use never you mind to tell someone not to ask about something because it is not their concern or they should not know about it. [SPOKEN]

   19. PHRASE: PHR with cl (emphasis) You can say `I don't mind telling you' to emphasize the statement you are making.

   20. PHRASE: PHR n/-ing If you say that you wouldn't mind something, you mean that you would quite like it.

   21. to mind your own business → see business

       to mind your Ps and Qs → see p