fuːd fɔr θɔːt
Food & Cooking
neutral
beginner
- Literally:
- Nutrition for the mind
What does "food for thought" mean?
- Something to think about carefully
- An idea or point that deserves consideration
Examples
- The lecture gave me a lot of food for thought.
- Here's some food for thought: what if we changed our approach?
- His criticism was food for thought.
Origin
The metaphor of mental 'food' nourishing thoughts dates to at least the 19th century. The phrase emphasizes that some ideas need to be 'digested' or considered carefully.
How to use it
Common expression for presenting ideas worth considering. Often used when introducing or concluding thoughtful discussions.
Similar expressions
something to ponder
matter for consideration
Opposites
trivial
not worth thinking about
Related idioms
- piece of cake
Something very easy to do
- a piece of cake
Something very easy to do
- in a nutshell
In a very brief or concise form
- an apple a day keeps the doctor away
Eating fruit or having a healthy diet helps maintain good health
- bite off more than you can chew
To take on more responsibility or work than one can handle
- don't put all your eggs in one basket
Don't risk everything on a single opportunity
Use it in a practice answer
Try "food for thought" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.