think

Universal Words verb, noun verb (thought, thought ) have opinion / belief 1 ~ (about sth) (not used in the progressive tenses) to have a particular idea or opinion about sth/sb; to believe sth: [V(that)] Do you think (that) they'll come? * I thought I heard a scream. * I didn't think you liked sports. * Am I right in thinking that you used to live here? * I think this is their house, but I'm not sure. * He ought to resign, I think. * We'll need about 20 chairs, I should think. * [VN(that)] It was once thought that the sun travelled around the earth. * [VN] What did you think about the idea? * Well, I like it. What do you think? * [V] 'Will we make it in time?' 'I think so.' * 'Is he any good?' 'I don't think so.' * [VN-ADJ] I think it highly unlikely that I'll get the job. * She thought him kind and generous. * [VNtoinf] He's thought to be one of the richest men in Europe. HELPNOTE This pattern is not usually used unless think is in the passive. use mind 2 ~ (about sth) to use your mind to consider sth, to form connected ideas, to try to solve problems, etc: [V] Are animals able to think? * Let me think (= give me time before I answer). * I can't tell you now-I'll have to think about it. * She had thought very deeply about this problem. * All he ever thinks about is money. * I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking (= said when you have upset or offended sb accidentally). * [Vwh-] He was trying to think what to do. 3 (usually used in the progressive tenses) to have ideas, words or images in your mind: [VN] You're very quiet. What are you thinking? * [Vwh-] I was just thinking what a long way it is. * [Vspeech] 'I must be crazy,' she thought. imagine 4 [nopassive] to form an idea of sth; to imagine sth: [Vwh-] We couldn't think where you'd gone. * Just think how nice it would be to see them again. * [V(that)] I can't think (that) he would be so stupid. * [V] Just think-we'll be lying on the beach this time tomorrow. * [VN] If I'm late home, my mother always thinks the worst. * Try to think yourself into the role. expect 5 to expect sth: [V(that)] I never thought (that) I'd see her again. * The job took longer than we thought. * You'd think she'd have been grateful for my help (= but she wasn't). * [Vtoinf] (formal) Who would have thought to find you here? in a particular way 6 (informal) [nopassive] to think in a particular way or on a particular subject: [V-ADJ] Let's think positive. * You need to think big (= aim to achieve a lot). * [VN] If you want to make money, you've got to think money. showing anger / surprise 7 [V(that)] (spoken) used in questions to show that you are angry or surprised: What do you think you're doing? being less definite / more polite 8 (spoken) used to make sth you say sound less definite or more polite: [V(that)] I thought we could go out tonight. * Twenty guests are enough, I would have thought. * Do you think you could open the window? * [V] 'You've made a mistake.' 'I don't think so / I think not.' intend 9 to intend sth; to have a plan about sth: [V(that)] I think I'll go for a swim. * [V] I'm thinking in terms of about 70 guests at the wedding. remember 10 to remember sth; to have sth come into your mind: [Vtoinf] I didn't think (= it did not OCCUR to me) to tell her. * [Vwh-] I can't think where I put the keys. IDIOMS come to think of it used when you suddenly remember sth or realize that it might be important: Come to think of it, he did mention seeing you. I don't think so (spoken) used to say very strongly that you do not agree with sth, or that sth is not possible: Me? Fail? I don't think so. if / when you think about it used to draw attention to a fact that is not obvious or has not previously been mentioned: They do have a big house, when you think about it. I thought as much that is what I expected or suspected: 'He said he'd forgotten.' 'I thought as much.' think again to consider a situation again and perhaps change your idea or intention think aloud to say what your thoughts are as you have them think better of it / of doing sth to decide not to do sth after thinking further about it: Rosie was about to protest but thought better of it. think (the) better of sb to have a higher opinion of sb: She has behaved appallingly-I must say I thought better of her. think nothing of it (formal) used as a polite response when sb has said sorry to you or thanked you think nothing of sth / of doing sth to consider an activity to be normal and not particularly unusual or difficult: She thinks nothing of walking thirty miles a day. think on your feet to be able to think and react to things very quickly and effectively without any preparation think straight to think in a clear or logical way think twice about sth / about doing sth to think carefully before deciding to do sth: You should think twice about employing someone you've never met. think the world, highly, a lot, not much, poorly, little, etc. of sb/sth to have a very good, poor, etc. opinion of sb/sth: He thinks the world of his daughter. * I don't think much of her idea. to think (that...) used to show that you are surprised or shocked by something: To think that my mother wrote all those books and I never knew! moreatFITadj., ILLadv., LETv., LIKEv., OWNv. PHRASALVERBS think about / of sb/sth 1 to consider sb/sth when you are doing or planning sth: Don't you ever think about other people? 2 to consider doing sth SYNCONTEMPLATE [+-ing]: She's thinking of changing her job. think ahead (to sth) to think about a future event or situation and plan for it think back (to sth) to think about sth that happened in the past: I keep thinking back to the day I arrived here. think for yourself to form your own opinions and make decisions without depending on others think of sth/sb 1 to have an image or idea of sth/sb in your mind: When I said that I wasn't thinking of anyone in particular. 2 to create an idea in your imagination: Can anybody think of a way to raise money? * 'What shall we do now?' 'I'll think of something.' * Have you thought of a name for the baby yet? 3 [nopassive] (used especially with can) to remember sth/sb: I can think of at least three occasions when he arrived late. * I can't think of her name at the moment. think of sb/sth as sb/sth to consider sb/sth in a particular way: I think of this place as my home. * She is thought of as a possible future director. seealsoTHOUGHT-OF think of sth to imagine an actual or a possible situation: Just think of the expense! * [+-ing] I couldn't think of letting you take the blame (= I would not allow that to happen). think sth<->out to consider or plan sth carefully: It's a very well thought out plan. think sth<->over to consider sth carefully, especially before reaching a decision: He'd like more time to think things over. * I've been thinking over what you said. think sth<->through to consider a problem or a possible course of action fully think sth<->up (informal) to create sth in your mind SYNINVENT, DEVISE: Can't you think up a better excuse than that? noun [sing.] IDIOMS have a think (about sth) (informal) to think carefully about sth in order to make a decision about it: I'll have a think and let you know tomorrow. you've got another think coming (informal) used to tell sb that they are wrong about sth and must change their plans or opinions: If you think I'm going to pay all your bills you've got another think coming.