Talking about thoughts
I honestly think we can win the match tonight. [NOT I strongly think]
I’m not sure if I want to invest in your business or not, but I’ll give it some thought.
Bear in mind that there are often delays to flights during bad weather. [remember]
It’s common knowledge that Hannah is looking for a new job. [everyone knows]
My teenage son hasn’t yet grasped the importance of revising for exams. [understood how important something is]
I take the view that we are all responsible for our own actions. [believe]
It’s a foregone conclusion that Jaime will win the race. [absolutely certain]
I’m not quite sure what I’m going to do but I’ve got a rough idea. [general idea]
I don’t subscribe to the theory that nature and nurture are of equal significance but it is now a widespread belief. [hold the opinion]; [generally held view]
Opinions are divided as to whether mothers of young children should go out to work or not, but it is my firm conviction that different things suit different families. [people hold different views]; [I am totally convinced]
Common mistakes
We say I am becoming aware of the problem, NOT I am getting aware.
Judging
collocation | example | meaning |
judge someone harshly | Don’t judge him too harshly. He really couldn’t have done things differently. | be very critical of someone |
poor judgement | Deciding to set up a business now shows poor judgement of the economic situation. | - |
pass judgement on | Di’s quick to pass judgement on other people but she’s far from perfect herself. | criticise |
against your better judgement | I finally agreed to go out with him, against my better judgement. | despite the knowledge that something is a bad idea |
a lack of judgement | Her approach to the recent discipline problems inschool showed a lack of judgement. | an inability to judge a situation wisely |
an error of judgement | Promoting Alec was a serious error of judgement. | bad decision |
Metaphors of thinking
We can talk about thinking laterally(1). We can say someone has a fertile imagination(2). We can wrestle with a problem(3) and we can have a nagging doubt(4). We can also talk about something fuelling speculation(5), and sometimes people jump to conclusions(6).
1 approaching a problem in an imaginative and original way rather than using a traditional approach
2 one that produces lots of original and interesting ideas
3 struggle to find a solution
4 an unpleasant feeling of doubt that will not go away
5 encouraging people to consider that something may be true
6 guess the facts about a situation without having
enough information
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