mull it over

USAGE SUMMARY

'mull it over' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to think about something carefully and weigh the pros and cons before making a decision. Example: I'm still not sure whether I should accept the job offer, so I'm going to mull it over for a few days before I decide.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"I'll have to mull it over," she said.

The New York Times

While I mull it over, I keep going.

The New York Times - Magazine

I have to mull it over for a few days, think it over from front to back.

The New York Times

Most e-commerce sites try to steer customers toward a purchase, while Warby Parker encourages people to mull it over, he said.

The New York Times - Tech

Two close friends began ribbing her: "Why are you falling for a bad boy?" She soon had a chance to mull it over at a youth-leadership retreat.

The New York Times

"I have a good idea now which direction I want to go," Mr. Paterson said, but said he wanted to mull it over for several more days.

The New York Times

If you wanted to figure something out, you had to talk to your friends and co-workers, or mull it over for yourself.

The New Yorker

I'm not sure I completely agree with that assessment, but let me take some time to mull it over and maybe we can sit down again next week once I've had a chance to consider it carefully,'" says Kerr.

Independent

Dr. Verlinsky said, too, that the couple had not made their decision in "a moment of emotion," but had had weeks and months to mull it over, because the medical procedures they went through in order to conceive take time.

The New York Times

Whereas a typical police officer tells a witness to take time and mull it over, Dr Brewer sets a very short deadline.Dr Brewer knew from past research that strong memory traces are more rapidly accessed by the brain than weaker ones and that accurate eyewitness identifications are made significantly faster than inaccurate ones.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

While the Times hardly crumbled at the writers' feet, they did step back to mull it over but other newspapers have already caught the virus and are demanding copyright ownership, namely the Chicago Tribune and the Boston Globe.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "mull it over" when you want to indicate a period of thoughtful reflection rather than an immediate decision.

Common error

Don't rush into making important choices without taking the time to "mull it over". Impulsive decisions can lead to regret and missed opportunities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mull it over" functions as a phrasal verb, acting as the predicate of a clause, indicating the action of carefully considering something. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Wiki

12%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrasal verb "mull it over" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to convey the act of carefully considering something before making a decision. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English, indicating that it follows standard grammatical conventions. Predominantly found in News & Media sources like The New York Times and The New Yorker, as well as in Wiki articles, its usage spans from formal discussions to more casual contexts. When seeking alternatives, options like "consider it carefully" or "think it through" can be employed to express similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

consider it carefully

Highlights the thoroughness of the consideration process.

give it due consideration

Highlights the importance of providing adequate thought.

think it through

Suggests a more structured and comprehensive thought process.

ponder it

Focuses more on deep thought and consideration.

reflect on it

Emphasizes thoughtful consideration and introspection.

deliberate about it

Indicates a formal and careful discussion before making a decision.

give it some thought

Implies a less intense or immediate need for a decision.

ruminate on it

Implies a deep and perhaps prolonged period of thought.

weigh it up

Suggests a balancing of pros and cons before deciding.

chew it over

An informal way of saying to think about something carefully.

FAQs

What does "mull it over" mean?

The phrase "mull it over" means to think carefully and deeply about something before making a decision. It suggests taking time to consider all aspects of the matter.

How can I use "mull it over" in a sentence?

You might say, "I need to "mull it over" before deciding whether to accept the job offer" or "She told me to "mull it over" and let her know my answer next week".

What are some alternatives to "mull it over"?

Alternatives include "consider it carefully", "think it through", "ponder it", or "reflect on it". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "mull over it" instead of "mull it over"?

While the meaning remains understandable, "mull it over" is the more common and grammatically preferred phrasing. Using "mull over it" is less idiomatic and may sound slightly awkward to native English speakers.