PhrasesHub

Out of sight, out of mind

    Definitions

      • forget about something or someone
        To suggest that when something or someone is no longer visible or present, they are easily forgotten or ignored.

      • distance oneself emotionally
        To imply that when something or someone is not within our immediate surroundings, we tend to emotionally detach ourselves from them and their impact on our lives.

    Examples of Out of sight, out of mind

    • After my friend moved to a different city, our communication decreased drastically. I guess out of sight, out of mind applies here.

      This idiom means that if something or someone is not present in your mind or surroundings, you are less likely to remember or think about them. In this case, the friend's absence from the current location led to a decrease in communication.

    • I used to love eating candy, but after I started working out regularly, I stopped craving it. Out of sight, out of mind, I guess.

      This example shows how the idiom can be applied to a habit or preference. The speaker's focus on working out led to a decrease in thoughts about candy, as it was no longer readily available or in sight.

    • I've been trying to declutter my apartment, and I've realized that some items I thought I needed, I haven't even thought about since I put them in storage. Out of sight, out of mind.

      This example shows how the idiom can be applied to possessions. By storing items out of sight, the speaker has forgotten about them, leading to a realization that they no longer need or want them.

    • I used to love watching TV, but since I started reading more, I've found that I prefer the quiet and peacefulness of reading. Out of sight, out of mind, I guess.

      This example shows how the idiom can be applied to leisure activities. By focusing on reading and removing the TV from sight, the speaker has found that they prefer the quiet and peaceful nature of reading over the noise and distraction of TV.

    • I used to remember my friend's birthday every year, but since she moved to a different time zone, I keep forgetting. Out of sight, out of mind, I guess.

      This example shows how the idiom can be applied to remembering important dates. By being in a different time zone, the friend's birthday is no longer readily present in the speaker's mind, leading to forgetfulness.


    Conclusion

    This idiom carries a negative connotation, suggesting that when we are no longer able to see or interact with something or someone, we are likely to forget about them or lose interest in them. It can also imply a sense of emotional detachment or apathy towards something or someone who is not physically present in our lives.

    Origin of "Out of sight, out of mind"

    The origin of this idiom can be traced back to the Latin phrase "absentem laedit, cum ebrio qui litigat," which translates to "he who fights with the drunk, injures the absent." This phrase was commonly used in legal debates to emphasize the difficulty of defending someone who is not present to defend themselves.

    Over time, this phrase evolved into the English proverb "out of sight, out of mind," which first appeared in print in the 13th century. It gained popularity in the 16th century and has been used in various forms since then, including "out of sight, out of mind, out of heart," which suggests that distance can also lead to emotional detachment.

    The idiom has been used in literature and everyday language to convey the idea that things or people who are not within our immediate reach or vision are easily forgotten. It can also be interpreted as a warning to not rely too heavily on someone or something that is not consistently present in our lives.