train of thought

Meaning

1. 1phrasefixed phrase

   The series of connected ideas that follow one after another in someone's mind as they think or speak.

   Grammar: Used as a countable noun phrase, usually with a possessive: lose your train of thought.

   Patterns

   • lose your train of thought
   • follow someone's train of thought
   • interrupt someone's train of thought

   Sorry, I lost my train of thought when the phone rang.

   The loud noise broke her train of thought in the middle of the exam.

   It was hard to follow his train of thought because he kept jumping between topics.

Word forms

Common combinations

lose your train of thought

I always lose my train of thought when people interrupt.

follow someone's train of thought

I could not follow his train of thought during the lecture.

interrupt a train of thought

Please do not interrupt my train of thought.

break someone's train of thought

A knock at the door broke her train of thought.

pick up the train of thought

Let me pick up my train of thought from where I stopped.

Synonyms and how they differ

line of thought

Line of thought is nearly identical but often suggests a deliberate reasoning path rather than ideas that just follow each other.

thread

Thread is shorter and often used for the main idea of a story or conversation, as in losing the thread.

stream of consciousness

Stream of consciousness suggests unfiltered, continuous thinking, whereas train of thought is more orderly.

chain of reasoning

Chain of reasoning is more logical and formal, while train of thought can wander.

Word family

thoughtless adjective

not thinking about others, or showing no thought

thoughtfully adverb

in a way that shows careful thinking

thought noun

an idea or the act of thinking

thoughtful adjective

deep in thought, or considerate

Practice

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