flight of idea

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "flight of idea" is not correct; the correct expression is "flight of ideas." You can use it to describe a rapid and often disorganized flow of thoughts, typically in a conversation or written work.
Example: "During the meeting, her flight of ideas made it difficult for the team to follow her main point."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Other symptoms including elevated mood, irritability, grandiosity, decreased sleep need, talkativeness, flight of idea, distractibility, hyperactivity, excessive involvement in activity, and hallucination were observed at similar rates in both groups.

International Journal of Bipolar Disorders

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Dr von Stumm explained that the test would look at how quickly people responded to stimuli such as being asked whether "they have their head in the clouds", and will probe their "flight of ideas".

Independent

On May 2016 after the manifestation of marked anxiety, flight of ideas, pressured speech, decreased ability to concentrate, insomnia, and persecutory delusions, she came to our attention and was admitted at our unit where lithium carbonate was reintroduced (16 days after its suspension) (re-challenge).

International Journal of Bipolar Disorders

Flight of ideas is typical of mania.

Wikipedia

The scientific study feels like synchronicity, coming so close on the heels of my flight of ideas.

Huffington Post

My racing thoughts and flight of ideas had me convinced that I had found a solution to wealth inequality; I stopped attending lectures.

Huffington Post

Regarding the tempo of thought, some people may experience flight of ideas, when their thoughts are so rapid that their speech seems incoherent, although a careful observer can discern a chain of poetic associations in the patient's speech.

Wikipedia

Factor 2 (13.9% of variance) included elevated mood, language abnormalities/thought disorder (circumstantial, distractible, flight of ideas, incoherent) increased sexual interest and poor insight.

BMC Psychiatry

Thereafter, he had a depressive mood, anxiety, and insomnia, and he subsequently presented with symptoms such as pressure of speech, flight of ideas, delusions of grandeur, thought dispersion, and irritability.

BMC Psychiatry

Symptoms of manganese poisoning can include euphoria, apathy, hallucinations, flight of ideas, compulsivity agitation and verbosity; and symptoms of mercury poisoning can include irritability, poor concentration, memory deficiencies, anxiety and depression.

BMJ Open

Four items which are considered classical manic symptoms i.e. elevated mood, language/thought disorder (racing thoughts, circumstantial, distractible, flight of ideas, incoherent), increased sexual interest and poor insight loaded on this factor.

BMC Psychiatry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the plural form, "flight of ideas," when describing the psychological symptom. It refers to a multiplicity of thoughts rapidly succeeding each other.

Common error

Avoid using the singular form "flight of idea." This term is grammatically incorrect and not recognized in psychological or general contexts. Always use the plural form, "flight of ideas", instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "flight of idea" is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "flight of ideas". It functions as a noun phrase, typically used in the context of psychology to describe a symptom of certain mental states.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

25%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The search query "flight of idea" leads to the important correction that the proper term is "flight of ideas". This phrase describes a psychological symptom involving a rapid and disjointed flow of thoughts, often associated with mania and other mental health conditions. Ludwig AI points out that using the singular form is grammatically incorrect. Thus, when writing or speaking about this phenomenon, it's crucial to use the plural form to maintain accuracy and clarity, as this term is related to science, news and media and wiki.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rapid flow of thoughts

Emphasizes the speed at which thoughts are occurring.

racing thoughts

Focuses on the accelerated pace of thinking.

stream of consciousness

Highlights the continuous and unbroken nature of thought.

rapid ideation

A more clinical term for quick thought generation.

tangential thinking

Indicates thoughts that stray from the main topic.

loosening of associations

Describes a pattern of speech where ideas shift from one subject to another completely unrelated subject.

pressured speech

Focuses on the rapid and often difficult-to-interrupt nature of speech accompanying rapid thoughts.

disjointed thoughts

Highlights the lack of coherence between ideas.

fragmented thinking

Emphasizes the incomplete and disconnected nature of thought processes.

scattered thoughts

Indicates a lack of focus and organization in thinking.

FAQs

Is it correct to say "flight of idea"?

No, the correct term is "flight of ideas". The plural form describes the psychological symptom of rapidly changing thoughts.

What does "flight of ideas" mean?

"Flight of ideas" refers to a rapid shifting of thoughts in conversation or writing, often seen as a symptom of mania. It involves quick jumps from one idea to another, with little connection between them.

What are some symptoms related to "flight of ideas"?

Related symptoms include pressured speech, distractibility, and racing thoughts. These symptoms are often associated with mood disorders such as bipolar disorder.

What can I say instead of "flight of ideas"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "rapid flow of thoughts", "racing thoughts", or "stream of consciousness".