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Out of Sight, Out of Mind

What Does "Out of Sight, Out of Mind" Mean?

homeidiomsOut of Sight, Out of Mind
"Out of sight, out of mind" is an English idiom. It means "the idea that something or someone is forgotten or no longer a concern when not visible or present."

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "out of sight, out of mind" used in a sentence:
  • Once they moved away, they became out of sight, out of mind for their old neighbours.
  • She put her old photos in a box in the attic, and they were out of sight, out of mind for years.
  • The project was out of sight, out of mind until it became a pressing issue again.
meaning for out of sight, out of mind

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 "Out of Sight, Out of Mind" 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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