Go into one's mind
phrasal verb
Definition
1. To enter a person’s thoughts.
2. To be thought about at a particular moment.
2. To be thought about at a particular moment.
Context Alive
The journalist leaned forward and asked, “When you first saw the damage from the earthquake, what went into your mind?” The survivor paused for a moment, trying to remember exactly what thoughts and feelings had filled her head in that terrifying first second.
Meanings
1 meaning 1 Thoughts Enter the Mind at a Specific Moment (Verb phrase) — COMMON Common ▼
This meaning is about thoughts, ideas, or feelings appearing in someone’s thinking, especially as an initial reaction to something. Imagine a reporter interviewing an athlete who just won an Olympic gold medal. The reporter asks, “What went into your mind when you crossed the finish line?” — wanting to know the exact thoughts that entered the athlete’s head at that moment. This is something going into your mind — a thought arriving in your awareness. An interviewer might ask what went into your mind when you got the job offer, or someone could wonder what goes into a child’s mind when they see snow for the first time. Or picture a therapist gently asking a patient, “What went into your mind when she said those words to you?” The phrase focuses on the moment thoughts appear, not how long they stay. ✏️ This phrase is very popular in BBC-style interviews and reflective conversations. It sounds thoughtful and slightly formal — perfect for asking someone to recall their mental reaction to an event. You’ll often hear “What went into your mind?” or “Did it ever go into your mind that…?”
Vivid ExampleThe talk show host asked the rescued hiker, “When you realized you were completely lost in the mountains with no phone signal, what went into your mind?” He answered quietly, “Honestly, I thought about my kids and whether I’d ever see them again.”
Examples from the Street
“What went into your mind when you heard the diagnosis?”
What thoughts appeared in your head when you received the medical news?
“Fear was the first thing that went into my mind.”
Being scared was my immediate reaction — it was the first thought I had
“Nothing went into my mind — I was completely in shock.”
I couldn’t form any thoughts — I was totally stunned
Common Patterns
what goes/went into (someone’s) mind → asking about someone’s thoughts in a particular moment
what was going into your mind (when…) → asking about thoughts during a specific event
did (something) ever go into your mind? → asking whether someone considered something
(something) went into (someone’s) mind → a thought or feeling appeared in someone’s head
the first thing that went into my mind → the initial thought or reaction
nothing went into my mind → mental blank; unable to think due to shock or pressure
(emotion) went into (someone’s) mind → an emotional response appeared as a thought (fear, panic, anger)
several things went into my mind → multiple thoughts appeared at once
my / your / his / her / their mind → possessive changes with subject; structure remains fixed
Collocations
2 collocationswhat goes into someone's mind
what a person thinks about
never goes into my mind
I never think about that
Example Sentences
12 examples
1
What went into your mind when you heard the result?
What thoughts appeared at that moment when you learned the outcome?
2
Fear was the first thing that went into his mind when he saw the flames
Being scared was his initial reaction when he spotted the fire.
3
Nothing went into my mind — I was in complete shock
I couldn’t form any thoughts — I was totally stunned and unable to process anything.
4
Several possibilities went into her mind instantly when she heard about the job opening
Multiple options appeared in her head immediately when she learned about the vacancy.
5
That thought never went into my mind — I honestly didn’t consider it
That idea never occurred to me — I genuinely didn’t think about it.
6
Only one idea went into his mind at the time — escape
He focused on a single thought at that moment — getting away.
7
Anger quickly went into her mind when she realised she’d been lied to
Fury immediately appeared as her reaction when she discovered the deception.
8
When the alarm sounded, panic went into my mind before anything else
When the warning bell rang, terror was my immediate reaction ahead of any other thought.
9
Did that idea ever go into your mind during the negotiations?
Did you ever consider that possibility while the discussions were happening?
10
No clear plan went into their minds at first — they just ran
They were mentally unprepared initially — they simply fled without thinking.
Learner Examples
★
When students are suddenly called on to speak, panic often goes into their minds before they can even process the question
When learners are unexpectedly asked to respond, fear immediately appears as their first reaction before they can even understand what’s being asked.
★
During listening exercises, nothing goes into some students’ minds because they’re too focused on individual words instead of overall meaning
During audio tasks, certain learners can’t form any coherent thoughts because they’re concentrating too hard on single terms rather than the general message.
Phrasal Verbs & Idioms
2 items Idioms & Expressionscross one's mind — briefly think about something
It never crossed my mind that she might say no.
slip one's mind — accidentally forget something
Sorry, your birthday completely slipped my mind this year.
Synonyms & Antonyms
6 items
Synonymsoccur to someone
an idea coming to you
cross your mind
a thought briefly appearing
come to mind
thinking of something suddenly
pop into your head
informal — a sudden thought
Antonymsslip your mind
forgetting something
escape your notice
not thinking of something