'At the Back of One's Mind' Meaning and Examples

The idiom "at the back of one's mind" refers to a thought or idea that is lingering in a person's subconscious, not immediately noticeable or conscious but still present and potentially affecting their actions or decisions.

It's often used to describe when someone has a thought that they're not aware of or trying to ignore but still influences their behavior.

As a part of speech, "at the back of one's mind" is typically used as an adverbial phrase to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, and it's used to describe a state of mind or the location of a thought.

Some synonyms for "at the back of one's mind" include "in the back of one's mind," "in the depths of one's mind," "in the subconscious," and "at the bottom of one's mind."

The origin of the idiom is uncertain, but it likely stems from the concept of the conscious and unconscious mind and the idea that not all thoughts and ideas are immediately accessible to the conscious mind.

Sample sentences using "at the back of one's mind":

1. She had the thought of quitting her job at the back of her mind for a while before finally taking the leap.
2. The fear of failure was always at the back of his mind during the competition.
3. The possibility of moving to a new city was at the back of her mind, but she wasn't ready to make the decision just yet.
4. The thought of not being able to see his family again was at the back of his mind, but he tried to push it aside and focus on his work.
5. The idea of starting a family was always at the back of her mind, but she felt like she wasn't ready for the responsibility.
6. He had a nagging feeling at the back of his mind that he was forgetting something important.
7. The memory of her past experiences was always at the back of her mind, informing her decisions and shaping her worldview.
8. The fear of rejection was at the back of his mind as he approached her, but he forced himself to take the risk.
9. The thought of never being able to achieve her dream was at the back of her mind, but she refused to give up.
10. The idea of traveling the world was always at the back of his mind, and he finally made the decision to save up and go on an adventure.