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Collect One's Thoughts

What Does "Collect One's Thoughts" Mean?

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"Collect one's thoughts" is an English idiom. It means "to take a moment to think or compose oneself."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "collect one's thoughts" used in a sentence:
  • Before answering, he took a moment to collect his thoughts.
  • She excused herself from the room to collect her thoughts.
  • After the shock, it took a while for me to collect my thoughts.
meaning for collect one's thoughts

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "Collect One's Thoughts" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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