wild thoughts

USAGE SUMMARY

'wild thoughts' is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
It typically means thoughts that are unexpected, unconventional, and/or daring. For example, "After reading the article, I was seized with wild thoughts about the potential impact of this new technology."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

I started to think wild thoughts.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Ellie Prohan recently asked, while playing Rihanna and DJ Khaled's ubiquitous single, "Wild Thoughts," now entering its fourth month on the charts.

The New Yorker

For 10 days, thousands of wild thoughts came to mind, until I learnt through her father that she had been arrested.

Independent

Waluigi's impossibly nasal voice has also been remixed in the hottest tracks of recent years, including "Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars and "Wild Thoughts" by DJ Khaled and Rihanna.

The Washington Post

When drug dealers murdered his wife 12 years ago, Carlos Hernandez said last week, "crazy, wild thoughts were going through my head -- killing them, getting justice on my own".

The New York Times

"Think wild thoughts.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

"In the beginning it seemed like just a wild thought, but after I thought about it for a while, I decided it would be interesting to try it," said Erling Omvik, the editor of Fredrikstad Blad, one of Edda's newspapers, in the southern city of Fredrikstad.

The New York Times

Federal judges do not usually indulge such wild thought experiments.

The New York Times

Which is a wild thought, given that Bobby Fischer was this one lone ranger in 1972.

The New Yorker

Wild, thought-provoking leaps are required for greatness, but they can backfire.

The New York Times - Food

· No, we don't get paid to judge the prize, nor are we paid by record companies (a wild thought, there, Mastershake) to push certain albums.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "wild thoughts" to describe creative, unconventional, or even slightly unrealistic ideas that someone is having. It's suitable for both serious and lighthearted contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "wild thoughts" when you mean simply 'new ideas'. The phrase carries a connotation of being somewhat uncontrolled or extreme, so ensure that fits the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wild thoughts" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where 'wild' modifies 'thoughts'. It suggests imaginative, unconventional, or slightly irrational ideas. As Ludwig AI points out, it's a usable phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "wild thoughts" is a commonly used and grammatically correct phrase that describes imaginative, unconventional, or slightly irrational ideas. According to Ludwig AI, it denotes thoughts that are unexpected, unconventional, or daring. The phrase is frequently found in News & Media and Science sources, indicating a neutral to slightly informal register. While versatile, be mindful of the intensity it conveys, as it suggests a greater degree of unrestrained creativity than simply 'new ideas'. Alternatives such as "crazy ideas" or "unrestrained thoughts" can be used depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unrestrained thoughts

Uses 'unrestrained' in place of 'wild', emphasizing the lack of control or limitation in thinking.

crazy ideas

Replaces 'thoughts' with 'ideas' and 'wild' with 'crazy', indicating a more intense or irrational notion.

irrational musings

Substitutes 'thoughts' with 'musings' and 'wild' with 'irrational', suggesting illogical contemplation.

far-fetched ideas

Replaces 'thoughts' with 'ideas' and 'wild' with 'far-fetched', implying implausible or unlikely concepts.

fanciful notions

Substitutes 'thoughts' with 'notions' and 'wild' with 'fanciful', suggesting imaginative and unrealistic ideas.

outlandish notions

Replaces 'thoughts' with 'notions' and 'wild' with 'outlandish', connoting bizarre or eccentric ideas.

absurd ideas

Replaces 'thoughts' with 'ideas' and 'wild' with 'absurd', implying illogical or unreasonable concepts.

unfounded beliefs

Replaces 'thoughts' with 'beliefs' and 'wild' with 'unfounded', suggesting ideas lacking a solid basis.

visionary concepts

Implies innovative and original ideas replacing 'wild' with 'visionary' and 'thoughts' with 'concepts'.

imaginative flights of fancy

Replaces the original with a more elaborate expression emphasizing creativity and whimsy.

FAQs

How can I use "wild thoughts" in a sentence?

You can use "wild thoughts" to describe ideas that are imaginative, unconventional, or slightly irrational. For instance: "The brainstorming session sparked some truly wild thoughts about future product development."

What are some synonyms for "wild thoughts"?

Alternatives include "crazy ideas", "fanciful notions", or "unrestrained thoughts", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "wild thoughts" in formal writing?

While "wild thoughts" is generally acceptable, consider your audience. In highly formal writing, alternatives such as "innovative concepts" or "unconventional ideas" might be more suitable.

What's the difference between "wild thoughts" and "crazy ideas"?

"Wild thoughts" suggests a sense of untamed creativity, while "crazy ideas" often implies something more illogical or impractical. The choice depends on the specific context and the intended meaning.