In deep thoughts

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Yoong Liat

#406605 Mon, 20 Aug 07 02:38 AM

Is it correct to say "I was in deep thoughts"?

Many thanks.

Yoong Liat

Joined on Mon, Sep 4 2006

Singapore

Veteran Member (6,092)

Yoong Liat

Clive

#406616 Mon, 20 Aug 07 03:50 AM

Hi,

Is it correct to say "I was in deep thoughts"?

No, but you could say 'I was in deep thought'.

But very often, you'd say this another way, eg 'I was preoccupied'.

Best wishes, Clive

Clive

Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004

Canada

Veteran Member (22,474)

El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo

CalifJim

#406637 Mon, 20 Aug 07 05:48 AM

No. The expression that I am used to hearing is "I was deep in thought".

CJ

CalifJim

Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004

California

Veteran Member (17,693)

"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

Expressions

Recluse

#406656 Mon, 20 Aug 07 06:47 AM

No, but I think you can use "chew your cub " instead Smile [:)]

Recluse

Joined on Wed, Aug 15 2007

Los Angeles, California

Junior Member (85)

khoff

#406668 Mon, 20 Aug 07 07:50 AM

"chew your cub " A cub is a young bear (or lion or tiger). Perhaps you are thinking of "chew your cud," which is what cows do to digest food that was swallowed earlier. I suppose that a cow chewing a cud might look as if it was lost in thought, but I would certainly not suggest "I was chewing my cud" as a synonynm for "I was lost in thought." (Unless the speaker is a cow.)

khoff

Joined on Sun, Mar 6 2005

Denver, Colorado, USA, Earth

Senior Member (2,615)

Native speaker of American English (but not a grammar expert)

khoff

#406935 Mon, 20 Aug 07 06:35 PM

Aha! it occurred to me after going to bed latst night that you might be thinking of the word "ruminate" -- that is the techncal term for what a cow does, but it can also mean "to meditate or ponder" -- to go over and over the same thought in your mind. I suppose you could say "I was ruminating," but it's certainly not as common or idiomatic as "I was lost in thought." It would more likely be used like this -- "last night I was ruminating over your question, and eventually this thought came to me..."

khoff