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Common Idioms For Memory

Common Idioms For Memory

International English Test Editorial Team·6 Dec 2023·3 min read

Discover interesting English Common idioms for memory. At times, we can recall something we’ve learned in English promptly, while on other occasions, a word or rule we recently acquired completely eludes us when we need it most. This is particularly common for ESL learners still working to master the language.

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English Language Idioms About Memory

 Commit something to memory

Our fourth idiom implies “to study something meticulously to remember it precisely.” Examine the examples, and you’ll likely grasp how to use this idiom.

– I don’t have a pen to jot down your phone number, so I’ll have to commit it to memory.
– I consistently commit to memory all my patients’ names.

 Refresh someone’s memory

This English idiom refers to the act of reminding someone about something they have forgotten.

For instance:

– Allow me to refresh your memory – you’ve missed four classes this term.
– I had to refresh her memory about what transpired two years ago.

Bear in mind

  • If someone tells you to “bear in mind,” it indicates they want you to remember something significant.

    For instance:

    – You must bear in mind that the cost of living is higher in New York.
    – Bear in mind, my dear, it’s challenging to trust people once you’ve been deceived.

 If (my) memory serves me correctly

The second idiom on our list signifies “if I remember (something) correctly.” Employ it when you are reasonably confident that you recall something accurately but are not entirely sure.

For example:

– If my memory serves me right, you are the cousin of my closest friend.
– If memory serves me correctly, we’ve already met before.

 Trip down memory lane

This English idiom describes a situation where individuals recall or discuss events from the past.

For instance:

– Every Christmas is a nostalgic journey for the family when our parents bring out the photo albums.
– We were reminiscing about our vacation in the Bahamas last summer, taking a trip down memory lane, when Juliet entered the room.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/CRUHyb7oXMM?feature=oembed

If you’re aiming to learn English, it’s crucial to grasp some fundamental English idioms. Not everyone has access to an English teacher, so independently studying idiom lists and learning them on your own might be the optimal approach for you.

Now that you’ve acquired a few useful English phrases related to memory (or forgetting things), try incorporating them into your daily conversations.

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May your memory always serve you correctly!

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Frequently Asked Questions

To commit something to memory means to study or learn it carefully so that you remember it precisely without needing to write it down. You might say, "I don't have a pen to jot down your phone number, so I'll have to commit it to memory." It suggests deliberate effort to retain information accurately, such as a nurse who commits all the patients' names to memory.
You use refresh someone's memory when you remind a person about something they have forgotten. For example, "Allow me to refresh your memory, you've missed four classes this term," or "I had to refresh her memory about what transpired two years ago." It works well when prompting someone to recall a detail or event they may have overlooked.
Say if my memory serves me correctly when you are reasonably confident that you recall something accurately but are not entirely sure. It signals a polite hedge before stating a fact from the past. For instance, "If my memory serves me right, you are the cousin of my closest friend," or "If memory serves me correctly, we've already met before."
Bear in mind asks someone to remember something important going forward, as in "You must bear in mind that the cost of living is higher in New York." A trip down memory lane instead describes recalling or discussing past events nostalgically, such as looking through old photo albums every Christmas. One points to the future, the other reflects on the past.
A trip down memory lane happens when people fondly remember earlier times together. For example, "We were reminiscing about our vacation in the Bahamas last summer, taking a trip down memory lane, when Juliet entered the room." Bringing out old photo albums at Christmas so the family relives shared moments is another natural example of this nostalgic idiom.
Memory idioms help ESL learners sound more natural because native speakers use phrases like bear in mind or refresh your memory constantly in everyday talk. Since not everyone has an English teacher, studying idiom lists independently and practising them in daily conversation is often the best approach. Mastering these expressions also strengthens recall of vocabulary and grammar rules you have learned.
International English Test

International English Test Editorial Team

ALTE Associate Member · UK English assessment provider · Est. 2023

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