come to mind

To suddenly or immediately materialize in one's mind. A: "What would you like to have for dinner?" B: "I'm not sure, nothing's really coming to mind." He's not a writer who comes to mind when you think of crime thrillers, but his books are edgy, brilliant page-turners. We'd been working on the problem at the lab for weeks, but a solution only came to mind when I was out gardening!

See also: come, mind, to

spring to mind

To suddenly or immediately appear, materialize, or come to the forefront in one's mind. A: "What would you like to have for dinner?" B: "I'm not sure, nothing's really springing to mind." When it comes to crime thrillers, he's not a writer who springs to most people's minds, but his books are edgy, brilliant page turners.

come to mind

Fig. [for a thought or idea] to enter into one's consciousness or be remembered. Do I know a good barber? No one comes to mind right now. Another idea comes to mind. Why not check in the phone book?

See also: come, mind, to

come to mind

Be recollected, occur to one, as in A new idea just came to mind. This phrase replaced the earlier come in mind, which dates from the late 1300s. Also see bring to mind; call to mind; enter one's mind.

See also: come, mind, to

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.

come (or spring) to mind

(of a thought or idea) occur to someone; be thought of.

See also: come, mind, to

come/spring to ˈmind

if something comes or springs to mind, you suddenly remember or think of it: ‘Have you any suggestions?’ ‘Nothing springs to mind, I’m afraid.’ ♢ Just say whatever comes to mind — it doesn’t matter.

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