25 Idioms for Memory

Memory plays a crucial role in how we recall the past, learn new things, and make decisions. Whether you’re trying to “jog someone’s memory” or you’ve “forgotten something in the blink of an eye,” we all rely on memory in different ways. In English, there are many idioms that relate to memory—expressing everything from remembering something clearly to forgetting it entirely.

In this article, we’ll explore 25 idioms for memory that help capture the experience of remembering and forgetting. These idioms can be used to describe how well you or someone else remembers something, or how your memory can play tricks on you.

1. Jog someone’s memory

Meaning: To help someone remember something
In a Sentence:
– “I can’t quite remember her name, but maybe this photo will jog my memory.”
– “The smell of the flowers really jogged my memory about the trip we took last summer.”
Other Ways to Say: Refresh one’s memory / Trigger a memory

2. A trip down memory lane

Meaning: A nostalgic journey or reminiscence about the past
In a Sentence:
– “Looking at old photos was like taking a trip down memory lane.”
– “That old song brings back memories of my childhood, a real trip down memory lane.”
Other Ways to Say: Reminisce / Reflect on the past

3. In one ear and out the other

Meaning: To hear something but immediately forget it
In a Sentence:
– “I told him the instructions three times, but it just went in one ear and out the other.”
– “She listens to me, but it always goes in one ear and out the other.”
Other Ways to Say: Forget immediately / Not retain

4. Like water off a duck’s back

Meaning: To not be affected by something, especially a criticism or advice
In a Sentence:
– “The criticism just rolled off him like water off a duck’s back.”
– “His harsh words were like water off a duck’s back to her, as she didn’t let it bother her.”
Other Ways to Say: Unaffected / Not bothered

5. Have a memory like a sieve

Meaning: To have a very poor memory, often forgetting things easily
In a Sentence:
– “I have a memory like a sieve; I can never remember where I put my keys.”
– “She has a memory like a sieve, always forgetting to bring her homework.”
Other Ways to Say: Forgetful / Poor memory

6. A mind like a steel trap

Meaning: To have an excellent memory, able to remember things clearly and quickly
In a Sentence:
– “He’s got a mind like a steel trap, remembering every detail of the conversation.”
– “She has a mind like a steel trap, able to recall the exact dates and events from years ago.”
Other Ways to Say: Sharp memory / Excellent recall

7. Out of sight, out of mind

Meaning: When something or someone is no longer visible or present, it is easily forgotten
In a Sentence:
– “I haven’t seen her in months, and it’s true—out of sight, out of mind.”
– “If I don’t keep reminders, it’s out of sight, out of mind for me.”
Other Ways to Say: Forgotten / No longer remembered

8. A slip of the tongue

Meaning: To accidentally say something you didn’t mean to, often revealing something you forgot or didn’t intend to mention
In a Sentence:
– “I made a slip of the tongue and accidentally revealed the surprise party.”
– “It was just a slip of the tongue; I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”
Other Ways to Say: Accidental comment / Mistaken remark

9. In the back of one’s mind

Meaning: To remember something, but not actively think about it; something always lingering in the mind
In a Sentence:
– “I had his birthday in the back of my mind, but I completely forgot to buy a gift.”
– “It’s always in the back of my mind, even though I don’t always think about it.”
Other Ways to Say: Subconscious memory / Lingering thought

10. To draw a blank

Meaning: To fail to remember something, often temporarily
In a Sentence:
– “I tried to remember the name of the movie, but I just drew a blank.”
– “When asked about the details, I completely drew a blank.”
Other Ways to Say: Forget / Lose your train of thought

11. A blast from the past

Meaning: A sudden reminder or return of something or someone from the past
In a Sentence:
– “Seeing that old photograph was a real blast from the past; I hadn’t thought about those days in years.”
– “He showed up at the reunion like a blast from the past, and it was amazing to catch up.”
Other Ways to Say: Nostalgic moment / Unexpected reminder

12. Memory like an elephant

Meaning: To have a very good memory, able to remember even the smallest details
In a Sentence:
– “She has a memory like an elephant; she remembers everything from years ago!”
– “I wish I had a memory like an elephant, then I wouldn’t forget so much.”
Other Ways to Say: Excellent memory / Sharp recall

13. Lost in thought

Meaning: To be so absorbed in thinking or remembering something that you’re unaware of what’s happening around you
In a Sentence:
– “She was lost in thought, remembering the good times she had on her vacation.”
– “He seemed lost in thought when I asked him about the presentation.”
Other Ways to Say: Deep in thought / Daydreaming

14. Jog your memory

Meaning: To remind someone of something they’ve forgotten
In a Sentence:
– “Let me jog your memory with a few details, and maybe you’ll remember what happened.”
– “I’ll show you the photo to jog your memory.”
Other Ways to Say: Refresh your memory / Remind you

15. Put something out of your mind

Meaning: To stop thinking about something or try to forget it
In a Sentence:
– “I had to put the failure out of my mind and focus on my next project.”
– “It’s hard to put that conversation out of my mind because it’s bothering me.”
Other Ways to Say: Let go of / Forget

16. Have a memory lapse

Meaning: To forget something temporarily, often due to a moment of inattention or distraction
In a Sentence:
– “I had a memory lapse and forgot the name of the person I was supposed to meet.”
– “She had a memory lapse during the presentation and couldn’t remember the statistics.”
Other Ways to Say: Momentary forgetfulness / Temporary lapse

17. The memory of an elephant

Meaning: To have an excellent memory that allows you to remember even the smallest details
In a Sentence:
– “You’ve got the memory of an elephant if you can recall all that from our childhood!”
– “She’s got the memory of an elephant, she never forgets a single detail.”
Other Ways to Say: Incredible memory / Sharp memory

18. A fleeting memory

Meaning: A memory that is short-lived or difficult to hold on to
In a Sentence:
– “The details of the dream were just a fleeting memory by the time I woke up.”
– “The moment was a fleeting memory, slipping away as I tried to recall it.”
Other Ways to Say: Temporary memory / Short-lived recollection

19. Come flooding back

Meaning: To suddenly recall a memory, often vividly and with great detail
In a Sentence:
– “As soon as I stepped into the old house, memories of my childhood came flooding back.”
– “The song played, and all the memories of that summer came flooding back.”
Other Ways to Say: Recollect / Come to mind

20. In one’s mind’s eye

Meaning: To recall something in your imagination or memory, often clearly and vividly
In a Sentence:
– “I can still see the place in my mind’s eye as if it were yesterday.”
– “In his mind’s eye, he could still picture the scene from the movie perfectly.”
Other Ways to Say: In one’s imagination / In one’s recollection

21. Bury the hatchet

Meaning: To forget about past grievances or mistakes and move forward
In a Sentence:
– “They decided to bury the hatchet and move on from the argument they had last year.”
– “After a long talk, we finally buried the hatchet and resumed our friendship.”
Other Ways to Say: Let go of the past / Move on

22. Slip through the cracks

Meaning: To forget something important or overlook it due to carelessness or distraction
In a Sentence:
– “The meeting invitation must have slipped through the cracks; I didn’t see it in my inbox.”
– “His request seemed to slip through the cracks, but I’ll follow up on it.”
Other Ways to Say: Overlook / Miss

23. Jog someone’s memory

Meaning: To help someone remember something they’ve forgotten
In a Sentence:
– “I’ll show you the old photo to jog your memory about the time we spent in Paris.”
– “Can you jog my memory and remind me where we were supposed to meet?”
Other Ways to Say: Remind someone / Refresh someone’s memory

24. Out of mind, out of sight

Meaning: When something is no longer present or visible, it is easily forgotten
In a Sentence:
– “When you’re busy with new projects, old ones often become out of mind, out of sight.”
– “She moved away, and I haven’t heard from her since—out of mind, out of sight.”
Other Ways to Say: Forgotten / No longer remembered

25. Like a broken record

Meaning: To repeat something continuously, especially when referring to something that is hard to forget
In a Sentence:
– “He keeps talking about the same incident, like a broken record.”
– “She’s bringing up that mistake again, sounding like a broken record.”
Other Ways to Say: Repetitive / Unchanging

Practice Exercise

Fill in the blanks using the correct idiom from the list:

1. I can’t quite remember the movie’s name, but let me __________ with this poster.
2. The smell of fresh bread brought back a __________ of my childhood.
3. After hearing the news, all the details of our last conversation __________.
4. I tried to tell him the story, but it just went __________.
5. He always has a __________, remembering everyone’s name at the party.
6. When you have a __________, you can easily recall facts from your past.
7. I’ll try to __________ by showing you these old pictures from the trip.
8. The idea of moving to a new city was a __________ for him, and he couldn’t forget it.
9. After years of feeling bitter, they decided to __________ and become friends again.
10. Every time I mention my childhood home, it’s like a __________ for my grandmother.
11. It’s a good idea to __________ before starting your new project.
12. She has a memory like an elephant; she never forgets anything.
13. When I heard the song again, all my memories of that summer came __________.
14. He had to __________ and start his business from the ground up.
15. I wish I could forget about it, but it keeps coming back to my mind __________.
16. After the meeting, I couldn’t help but feel like I was __________ when it came to remembering the details.
17. That conversation was __________; I couldn’t believe I said that!
18. She was so nervous she felt like a __________ in a maze, lost and confused.
19. It’s difficult to remember things when they go __________, out of your view for too long.
20. I kept telling him, but it was like talking to a __________; he didn’t seem to remember.
21. That surprise made me feel like I was __________, not knowing what was going on.
22. She kept talking about it __________, repeating the same thing over and over.
23. The whole situation was a bit __________, and I couldn’t understand it.
24. After the argument, he realized he had a __________ and decided to apologize.
25. When I needed a good idea, she was a __________, giving me exactly what I needed.

Answer Key

1. Jog my memory
2. A trip down memory lane
3. Came flooding back
4. In one ear and out the other
5. Memory like a steel trap
6. Mind like a steel trap
7. Jog your memory
8. A blast from the past
9. Bury the hatchet
10. A blast from the past
11. Brush up on (something)
12. Memory like an elephant
13. Flooding back
14. Start from scratch
15. Out of mind, out of sight
16. Lost in thought
17. Like a broken record
18. Like a mouse in a maze
19. Out of sight, out of mind
20. Like talking to a brick wall
21. A rabbit in headlights
22. Like a broken record
23. A whirlwind
24. A slip of the tongue
25. A brushstroke of genius

Conclusion

Memory is a powerful force in shaping our daily lives, and these 25 idioms for memory provide a variety of ways to describe the different aspects of remembering and forgetting. Whether you’re trying to “jog someone’s memory”, recalling a “blast from the past”, or admitting you have a “memory like a sieve”, these idioms help express how memory influences our thoughts, actions, and interactions.

Incorporating these idioms into your vocabulary not only enriches your language but also helps you communicate more vividly when discussing memory, whether it’s a fleeting thought, a cherished recollection, or something you wish to forget. Mastering these idioms will allow you to describe the complexities of memory in creative and engaging ways.