Knowledge & Understanding - Forgetting

Discover how English idioms like "go blank" and "time out of mind" relate to forgetting in English.

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to [draw] a blank [phrase]

to be unable to remember something clearly

Ex: I tried to remember his name , but I just drew a blank .

to often forget things due to one's exceptionally poor memory

Ex: I ca n't believe I forgot your birthday again ; I must have a memory like a sieve .

time out of mind [phrase]

a time so long ago that one has difficulty remembering clearly

Ex: The old bookstore had been a cherished community spot , a place of stories and knowledge , time out of mind .

to be very close to remembering or saying something but fail nevertheless

Ex: The title of the book is on the tip of her tongue , and she 's trying hard to recall it .

to [slip] {one's} (mind|memory) [phrase]

to be forgotten or disregarded

Ex: Her name slipped my memory for a moment , but then it came to me .

to forgive and forget [phrase]

to no longer be angry with someone who wronged one and act as if nothing happened

Ex: Holding onto anger and bitterness is n't healthy ; sometimes , it 's best to forgive and forget .

to [go] blank [phrase]

to fail to remember what one previously knew

Ex: The CEO 's mind went blank when the board of directors asked him about the company 's financial losses .

senior moment [noun]

temporary loss of memory that is experienced by some people when they get old

Ex: Do n't worry ; we all have our senior moments from time to time .

lost in the mists of time [phrase]

(of something that happened) really difficult to remember how long has passed since it happened to one

Ex: My great-grandparents' stories of their early life are now lost in the mists of time , leaving only fragments of memories .