at the back of one's mind

Register · Neutral Neutral — appropriate in most situations, both spoken and written, without sounding too casual or too stiff. 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 Neutral · CEFR B1

to remember and consider something when making a decision

come to mind Neutral · CEFR B1

to appear in one's thoughts or memory

out of sight, out of mind Neutral · CEFR B1

things not seen are soon forgotten

ring a bell Informal · CEFR B1

to sound familiar or remind you of something

cast one's mind back Neutral · CEFR B2

to think about something that happened in the past

come to think of it Neutral · CEFR B2

used when reconsideration brings a fresh realization or memory

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.

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