English idiom

at the back of one's mind

Register · Neutral CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

a thought or worry that you are vaguely aware of but not focusing on

Why this phrase?

The mind has no literal 'back'; it means a half-conscious thought.

Example

“At the back of my mind, I knew the trip was a mistake.”

Dictionary details

Tags

memory

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

bear in mind

to remember and consider something when making a decision

come to mind

to appear in one's thoughts or memory

ring a bell

to sound familiar or remind you of something

cast one's mind back

to think about something that happened in the past

come to think of it

used when reconsideration brings a fresh realization or memory

draw a blank

to be unable to recall or produce the needed answer or information

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

External links

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