English idiom

get one's thoughts together

Register · Informal CEFR B2

Post

Figurative meaning

to calm down and organize your thinking before acting or speaking

Why this phrase?

Thoughts aren't physically gathered; it means to organize your thinking.

Example

“Give me a moment to get my thoughts together before the interview.”

Dictionary details

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

brain power

intelligence or mental ability used to think and solve problems

come to mind

to appear in one's thoughts or memory

food for thought

an idea or piece of information worth thinking carefully about

think twice

to reconsider an action carefully before doing it

cool as a cucumber

very calm and composed, especially under pressure

cross that bridge when you come to it

To deal with a problem only when it actually arises, not before.

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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