Idioms

penny for your thoughts

Also found in: Acronyms.

penny for your thoughts

A phrase said when one is trying to find out what another person is thinking. You've been awfully quiet tonight, honey—a penny for your thoughts?
See also: for, penny, thought
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

penny for your thoughts

Prov. What are you thinking about?; I would give you a penny if you tell me your thoughts. Noticing that Janet looked pensive, Bill said, "A penny for your thoughts!" You seem very pleased with yourself today. A penny for your thoughts!
See also: for, penny, thought
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

penny for your thoughts, a

What are you thinking about? For example, You've been awfully quiet-a penny for your thoughts. This expression dates from the 1500s and was in John Heywood's 1546 collection of proverbs.
See also: for, penny
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

a penny for your thoughts

People say a penny for your thoughts when they want to know what someone is thinking. `A penny for your thoughts,' Marina said with a smile.
See also: for, penny, thought
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

a penny for your thoughts

used to ask someone what they are thinking about. informal
See also: for, penny, thought
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

a ˌpenny for your ˈthoughts

(also a ˈpenny for them) (saying) used to ask somebody what they are thinking about: A penny for your thoughts, Hugh! You haven’t said anything all evening!
See also: for, penny, thought
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017

penny for your thoughts, a

What are you thinking about? This expression was actually first stated early in the sixteenth century and was included in John Heywood’s 1546 proverb collection. A penny no longer is worth much, but the expression, much repeated over the years, survives nevertheless.
See also: for, penny
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer
See also:
References in periodicals archive
Before studying accounting, whenever I heard someone say "a penny for your thoughts," I pictured a friend asking someone what was on their mind.
Rants and raves
She is the author of several works examining the cultural history of copper mining and the legacy of the Anaconda company, including Tracing the Veins: Of Copper, Culture, and Community from Butte to Chuquicamata (1998), and "A Penny for Your Thoughts: Stories of Women, Copper, and Community," Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies 19:2 (1998).
Copper for America: The United States Copper Industry from Colonial Times to the 1990s
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"Penny for your thoughts," Ieuan pressed her gently.
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Her many published works include “A Penny for your Thoughts,” Penny Johnson, Published by Authorhouse, Bloomington, Indiana, 06-30-04-I.S.B.N.
Dr. Jane Penelope Johnson, Recently Recognized by America's Registry of Outstanding Professionals
6 BIG PICTURE: The Peace Camp image which shone out 11 READERS' LIVES: Peter Mortimer waxes lyrical about books that impressed 12 CULTURE DAILY: Catch up on our news 23 MY iPOD: Indie-rockers Human Sacrifice Club lend us their ear 24 5 QUESTIONS FOR: Book apothecary artist Yvette Hawkins 28 NEW MUSIC: Meet soul sister Amy Holford 29 MY HERO: Actor Chris O'Connel picks a funnyman 31 MOST TREASURED: A painting that asks a penny for your thoughts 32 10 THINGS: Our top selection for August outings 36 CLASSICAL: Newcastle pupils to benefit from inspired music project 38 BOOKS: Helen Stephens puts us in the picture about "authorstrators" 66 FINAL SAY: DJ Mariam Rezaei plays out
REGULARS
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The best effort came from Elizabeth Williams, of Prestatyn with: 'A penny for your thoughts Rod'.
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SAD STEVE A MAN IN TORMENT; STEVE RICHES is the saddest bloke in Britain, the man who spends all his time worrying about the impossible, conjuring up questions for which there's no answer. Can YOU help him out?
Now Terry Bradley, who has opened a new gallery at High Street in the town, has donated the print Penny For Your Thoughts, which is valued at PS800.
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PENNY FOR YOUR THOUGHTS Sue Jewitt and Graham Duff with their metal detectors.
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Or a penny for your thoughts? Mine are all about jobs - mine, yours, my friends', my colleagues'.
T.B.C
Penny for your thoughts, If they''re so cheap, You did sow so will not reap.
READERS' POEMS
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