Englishhalf a mind to do something
Meaning: Inclined or disposed to do something; to have almost decided to do something.
Example: “I have half a mind to sell this car and take the bus.”
Origin: "Mind" carries its older sense of intention or inclination — preserved in having a mind to do something, and in changing one's mind — rather than meaning the organ of thought. Halving it announces partial resolve, and the phrase does something quietly self-defeating as a result: by stating that the speaker is only half-decided, it performs the irresolution it describes, which is precisely why it attaches almost exclusively to threats that will not be carried out. Saying you have half a mind to do something is a recognized way of registering annoyance while simultaneously supplying advance notice that nothing is going to follow. The construction is attested in English from the 1600s.
More English idioms
- half-baked Poorly planned or thought out.
- hanky panky Sexual misconduct, mischief, or suspicious dealings.
- have it made To have no problems; to have achieved success.
- hear something through the grapevine To hear a rumor that may or may not be true.
- hem and haw To hesitate to say something directly.
- hit or miss Unplanned or random; equally likely to succeed or fail.
Explore another collection: Untranslatable Words
Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.
Keep exploring