food for thought
Something to consider. That meeting really gave me food for thought—I might invest in their company after all. That's some interesting food for thought. I hadn't considered that angle before. I always get food for thought out of these debates, even if I don't agree with most candidates' positions.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
food for thought
Fig. something for someone to think about; issues to be considered. Your essay has provided me with some interesting food for thought. My adviser gave me some food for thought about job opportunities.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
food for thought
An idea or issue to ponder, as in That interesting suggestion of yours has given us food for thought. This metaphoric phrase, transferring the idea of digestion from the stomach to mulling something over in the mind, dates from the late 1800s, although the idea was also expressed somewhat differently at least three centuries earlier.
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.
food for thought
COMMON If something gives you food for thought, it makes you think very hard about an issue. This Italian trip gave us all much food for thought. It was poor Alan dying like that, gave me food for thought.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
food for thought
something that warrants serious consideration or reflection.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
food for ˈthought
an event, a remark, a fact, etc. which should be considered very carefully because it is interesting, important, etc: The lectures were very interesting and gave much food for thought.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
food for thought
Something to ponder. This metaphor, which implies that the mind can chew or digest an idea, dates from the early nineteenth century, although words to that effect were cited by Erasmus in his Adagia of the sixteenth century (“Nor try to put courteous conversation into the minds of impudent men, for speech is the food of thought”). The modern cliché was used by Mark Twain (A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, 1889): “There was food for thought there.”
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer