cross my mind

USAGE SUMMARY

"cross my mind" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a thought that briefly occurs to you. For example, "The idea of traveling abroad had crossed my mind recently."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"So, yeah, it did cross my mind".

The New York Times

The thought did cross my mind.

The New York Times - Magazine

It didn't even cross my mind".

The New York Times - Magazine

"That does cross my mind".

The New Yorker

It didn't cross my mind.

The Guardian

It won't even cross my mind again".

The New York Times - Sports

It doesn't even cross my mind".

The New York Times - Sports

That never used to cross my mind.

The Guardian - Film

It didn't cross my mind that he would hurt her.

Independent

"It did not even cross my mind once," he said.

The New York Times

"It did actually cross my mind," Davis said.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cross my mind" to indicate a thought that briefly occurred to you, often unexpectedly. For example, "The possibility of rain didn't cross my mind until I saw the dark clouds."

Common error

Avoid overthinking the literal meaning of "cross my mind". It's an idiom, so focus on conveying the idea of a thought occurring, not a physical crossing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cross my mind" functions as an idiomatic expression indicating that a thought or idea has occurred to someone. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a common way to express a brief or passing thought.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Wiki

8%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cross my mind" is a common idiomatic expression used to indicate that a thought or idea has occurred to someone. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in English, and it's prevalent in various contexts, especially news and media. When writing, remember that it's an idiom, so focus on conveying the idea of a thought occurring rather than a literal crossing. Alternatives like "occur to me" or "spring to mind" can be used for variety. Its neutral register makes it suitable for both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

occur to me

This alternative suggests a thought that comes to someone's awareness.

enter my thoughts

This phrase describes a thought that comes into one's mind.

come into my head

Similar to 'enter my thoughts', but slightly more informal.

spring to mind

This describes a thought that quickly comes to mind.

come to my attention

This suggests something noticed or realized.

pass through my mind

This suggests a fleeting thought.

strike me

This emphasizes a sudden realization or thought.

register with me

This indicates that something has been noticed or understood.

dawn on me

This suggests a gradual realization.

hit me

This implies a sudden and forceful realization.

FAQs

How can I use "cross my mind" in a sentence?

Use "cross my mind" to express that a thought occurred to you. For example, "It didn't "even cross my mind" to ask for help."

What does "cross my mind" mean?

"Cross my mind" means that a thought or idea occurred to someone. It's an idiom used to indicate a brief or passing thought.

What can I say instead of "cross my mind"?

You can use alternatives like "occur to me", "enter my thoughts", or "spring to mind" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "crossed my mind" or "cross my mind"?

Both "crossed my mind" and "cross my mind" are correct, depending on the tense you want to convey. "Crossed my mind" is past tense, while "cross my mind" can be used in present or future contexts.