thinking cap

Definitions

A metaphorical state of focused thinking or concentration, invoked to encourage problem-solving.

humorous, idiomatic

Equivalents

1 more languages

Suomimietintämyssy

Examples

“This project looks like⟳ it will be a real challenge⟳ – put⟳ on your thinking cap!”

“Now suppose⟳ they put⟳ on their "thinking-caps" a moment or two, and consider⟳ what is going on in the great world around them. [...] Before you pull⟳ off your "thinking-cap" cast⟳ a look⟳ around your own⟳ country—free, prosperous, powerful, independent; yet how full of wickedness, and how unmindful of its obligation to the God of nations!”

“Come⟳ children, gather around the desk, and we will have⟳ a chat for half an hour. We want⟳ you to put⟳ on your thinking caps, and show⟳ what manner of boys and girls you are.”

“The story you shall have⟳, then, just as well as I can tell⟳ it: and you must put⟳ on your thinking-caps, so as to remember⟳ all you can of it; and be sure to ask⟳ questions about what you don't understand⟳.”

“"Costly gifts, my dear child, are not always acceptable as a proof of love⟳. And if you put⟳ on your thinking cap, perhaps you will find⟳ that you, too, can take⟳ an acceptable keepsake to your teacher." / "Why, I'm sure I've nothing worth taking to her, mamma. And all the thinking caps in the world can't help⟳ me to an idea."”

“As time passed the Great Spirit grew fonder and fonder of his good-natured friend, and was grieved to see⟳ him suffer⟳ for the lack of a full dinner pot and stomach, so the Great Spirit put⟳ on his thinking-cap and learned a way to help⟳ Mr. Turtle. "The old fellow needs a wife!" said the Great Spirit taking off his thinking-cap.”

“There are two of us with children and just think⟳ now, if two of us with children can do this, just think⟳ what the young people who don't have⟳ children, coming out of school, can do if they put⟳ their thinking caps on and just volunteered and sat down and talked to find⟳ out what they can do. I know⟳ there are a lot of them out there can do it.”

“So Reuben [Mattus] put⟳ on his thinking cap and came up with the name⟳ Häagen-Dazs for his new line of premium, high-fat ice cream. Although it sports an umlaut and sounds Scandinavian, the name⟳ Häagen-Dazs is pure nonsense—it doesn't actually mean⟳ anything in any known language.”

“[I]f he stopped, took a deep breath, and put⟳ on a thinking cap to make⟳ a plan⟳, he would have⟳ a greater chance of finding the object and finding it sooner.”

CEFR level