put out of mind

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "put out of mind" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of intentionally forgetting or dismissing something from your thoughts. Example: "After the stressful meeting, I decided to put out of mind the negative comments and focus on the positive feedback I received."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

But you will, I can assure you, find it difficult to put out of mind".

The Guardian - Film

But those days were cloaked in a vagueness I never understood, as if the farm were a country he'd emigrated from and long since put out of mind.

The New York Times

Mrs. Schulz is also plant-obsessed, unable to resist, or put out of mind, a plant she has fallen in love with.

The New York Times

Yes, Jews and other official undesirables were repressed and worse, but they could be put out of mind, sometimes guiltily, sometimes blithely.

The New York Times - Arts

And, like the outsourced torture of 21st-century America, 18th-century British slavery is easy to put out of mind because it took place far from home.

The Guardian - Opinion

One might think so, but then one would have to ignore other similar passages, and to put out of mind entirely the novel's content: misery, murder, torture, suicide, mass death.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

It's an image that, she said, "I just have to put out of my mind".

The New York Times

"It's something he tried to put out of his mind".

The New York Times

The rest of it, Moore put out of his mind for 90 minutes.

The New York Times - Sports

"A lot of things we did in Vietnam I could put out of my mind," said Mr. Copeland, 67.

The New York Times

When he told me the story, I too found it hard to put out of my mind.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "put out of mind" when you want to emphasize a deliberate effort to forget or ignore something, especially if it's causing distress or distraction. For example, "I tried to "put out of mind" the negative comments and focus on the positive feedback."

Common error

Avoid using "put out of mind" when you simply mean something was forgotten due to lack of attention, not a conscious effort. "I forgot about the meeting" is different from "I actively tried to "put the meeting out of mind" after it was cancelled."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "put out of mind" functions primarily as a phrasal verb indicating a deliberate action to suppress or dismiss a thought or memory. Ludwig AI confirms its usage across different contexts where active forgetting is intended.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "put out of mind" is a phrasal verb used to describe the active effort to stop thinking about something, especially if it's unpleasant or distracting. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used in various contexts, including news, encyclopedias and general writing. When using "put out of mind", ensure you are conveying a deliberate attempt to forget something, differentiating it from simple forgetfulness. Consider alternatives like "forget about it" or "dismiss from consideration" depending on the specific nuance you want to express.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

forget about it

An informal way of saying to disregard or stop dwelling on something.

let it go

Indicates releasing attachment to a thought or feeling, often for emotional well-being.

dismiss from consideration

Implies a conscious decision to stop thinking about something because it's irrelevant or unimportant.

get over it

Suggests moving past something emotionally and ceasing to be affected by it.

banish from thought

Suggests a deliberate and forceful effort to remove something from one's mind.

push aside

Indicates an act of mentally setting something aside, often temporarily.

disregard

Emphasizes ignoring or paying no attention to something.

repress the thought

Highlights the act of suppressing a thought, often associated with discomfort or avoidance.

shrug off

Suggests lightly dismissing something as unimportant.

erase from memory

Implies a more permanent removal of something from one's consciousness.

FAQs

What does "put something out of your mind" mean?

The phrase "put something out of your mind" means to intentionally try to stop thinking about something, often because it is unpleasant or distracting. It implies a conscious effort to forget or disregard a particular thought or memory.

How can I use "put out of mind" in a sentence?

You can use "put out of mind" to describe an action of trying not to think about something. For example, "After the argument, I tried to "put out of mind" the hurtful words that were said", or "He attempted to "put out of mind" the worries about the upcoming exam".

What are some alternatives to "put out of mind"?

Some alternatives to "put out of mind" include "forget about it", "dismiss from consideration", or "banish from thought". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "put out of mind" or "forget"?

While both phrases involve ceasing to think about something, "put out of mind" implies a deliberate and active effort to stop thinking about it. "Forget", on the other hand, can simply mean that something slipped from your memory without any conscious effort. For example, I forgot the meeting vs. I tried to "put" the meeting "out of mind" since I couldn't attend.