Meaning & use
my shrink
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Meanings
phrasefixed phraseinformal
An informal way of referring to your own psychiatrist or psychotherapist.
Grammar: Used with a possessive word: my shrink, her shrink, his shrink; not usually 'a shrink' when talking about your own doctor.
Patterns
- my shrink
- her/his shrink
- see my shrink
I've been seeing my shrink every Tuesday since the spring.
My shrink suggested I write down how I feel before bed.
He told his shrink that the panic attacks had stopped.
phrasefixed phrasehumorous
Used humorously for anyone you talk to about your problems.
Grammar: Often said with a smile, so the listener knows you are joking.
Patterns
- be someone's shrink
You've listened to my problems all evening — you're my shrink now.
Don't make me your shrink; I have enough worries of my own.
Common combinations
- see my shrink
- I see my shrink on Friday afternoons.
- talk to my shrink
- She finally talked to her shrink about her father.
- my shrink says
- My shrink says I should sleep more.
- go to my shrink
- He goes to his shrink twice a month.
Synonyms and how they differ
- therapist
- The neutral, respectful word; use it in writing or when you do not know the person's exact job title.
- psychiatrist
- A precise medical term for a doctor who can also prescribe medicine; 'shrink' is informal and never used in official documents.
- counselor
- Usually someone who gives advice rather than medical treatment, so it is not a full replacement for 'shrink'.
Word family
- shrink noun
- informal, often disapproving: a psychiatrist or therapist in general.
Commonly confused: my shrink or shrink?
my shrink vs shrink
As a verb, 'shrink' means to become smaller; the noun sense meaning a therapist is informal and usually needs 'my' or 'her' in front.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'my shrink' in the most natural way?
Choose one answer.
'My shrink' informally means my psychiatrist or therapist, so talking about moods fits. Option 1 and 4 use 'shrink' with its ordinary noun meaning of something that gets smaller or a shop, and option 3 uses the verb wrongly.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “my shrink”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.