Top 50 Idioms for Memory With Meaning & Sentences
Idioms for Memory
1. A trip down memory lane
Meaning: Remembering past experiences fondly
In a Sentence: Looking through old photos was a trip down memory lane.
Other Ways to Say: Reminisce, Recall the past
2. Etched in memory
Meaning: Something remembered vividly and permanently
In a Sentence: Her smile is etched in my memory forever.
Other Ways to Say: Burned into memory, Imprinted in mind
3. Jog your memory
Meaning: To help someone remember something
In a Sentence: Seeing his old school helped jog his memory.
Other Ways to Say: Refresh memory, Trigger recollection
4. In one ear and out the other
Meaning: Quickly forgotten
In a Sentence: Whatever I say goes in one ear and out the other.
Other Ways to Say: Easily forgotten
5. Burn into memory
Meaning: To remember something clearly and vividly
In a Sentence: The moment she won the game burned into her memory forever.
Other Ways to Say: Imprint on memory, Etched in memory
6. A memory like a sieve
Meaning: Having a poor memory
In a Sentence: I forgot my keys again — I have a memory like a sieve.
Other Ways to Say: Forgetful, Short-term memory
7. A mind like a steel trap
Meaning: Very sharp and quick memory
In a Sentence: She remembered every detail — a mind like a steel trap.
Other Ways to Say: Sharp memory, Quick thinker
8. Commit to memory
Meaning: To memorize something intentionally
In a Sentence: I committed all the formulas to memory before the exam.
Other Ways to Say: Memorize, Learn by heart
9. Bring to mind
Meaning: To recall something
In a Sentence: That smell brings to mind my grandmother’s kitchen.
Other Ways to Say: Remind, Recall
10. Bear in mind
Meaning: To remember or consider something
In a Sentence: Bear in mind that the rules can change anytime.
Other Ways to Say: Keep in mind, Take into account
11. Lost in thought
Meaning: Deeply absorbed in memories or thinking
In a Sentence: He sat silently, lost in thought about his childhood.
Other Ways to Say: Deep in memory, Reflective
12. Call to mind
Meaning: To remember something
In a Sentence: His face calls to mind a classmate from college.
Other Ways to Say: Bring back, Recall
13. At the back of your mind
Meaning: Remembered but not always focused on
In a Sentence: That warning was always at the back of my mind.
Other Ways to Say: Subconscious thought, Lingering memory
14. A flash from the past
Meaning: A sudden memory of something from the past
In a Sentence: Running into her was a real flash from the past.
Other Ways to Say: Blast from the past, Sudden recollection
15. A photographic memory
Meaning: Ability to remember things in great detail
In a Sentence: He has a photographic memory and never forgets a face.
Other Ways to Say: Visual memory, Eidetic memory
16. Ring a bell
Meaning: Something sounds familiar
In a Sentence: That name rings a bell, but I can’t place it.
Other Ways to Say: Sound familiar, Vaguely remembered
17. On the tip of your tongue
Meaning: Almost remembered
In a Sentence: The answer is on the tip of my tongue!
Other Ways to Say: Almost recalled, Nearly remembered
18. Long-term memory
Meaning: Ability to recall information over long periods
In a Sentence: I still have long-term memories from childhood.
Other Ways to Say: Deep memory, Permanent memory
19. Take a walk down memory lane
Meaning: To revisit pleasant memories
In a Sentence: Let’s take a walk down memory lane and talk about school.
Other Ways to Say: Revisit the past, Recall sweet times
20. Stick in memory
Meaning: Hard to forget
In a Sentence: That song really sticks in my memory.
Other Ways to Say: Stay with you, Linger in memory
21. Stuck in your head
Meaning: Something you can’t stop remembering
In a Sentence: That jingle is stuck in my head all day.
Other Ways to Say: Etched in mind, Looped in memory
22. Bring to mind
Meaning: To cause someone to remember something
In a Sentence: That old song brings to mind my school days.
Other Ways to Say: Recall, Remind of
23. Refresh someone’s memory
Meaning: To help someone remember something
In a Sentence: Let me refresh your memory about the meeting time.
Other Ways to Say: Jog memory, Remind
24. Draw a blank
Meaning: To fail to remember something
In a Sentence: I tried to remember her name but drew a blank.
Other Ways to Say: Can’t recall, Memory lapse
25. In the back of one’s mind
Meaning: Something remembered but not focused on
In a Sentence: The worry of failing stayed in the back of my mind.
Other Ways to Say: Lingering thought, Subconscious memory
26. Memory like a sieve
Meaning: A very poor memory
In a Sentence: He forgets everything—he has a memory like a sieve.
Other Ways to Say: Forgetful, Absent-minded
27. A trip down memory lane
Meaning: Remembering past events fondly
In a Sentence: Looking at those photos was a trip down memory lane.
Other Ways to Say: Nostalgic reflection, Recollection
28. Brings back memories
Meaning: Causes old memories to return
In a Sentence: Visiting the park brings back memories of childhood.
Other Ways to Say: Recall the past, Evokes memories
29. At the forefront of one’s mind
Meaning: The most prominent memory or thought
In a Sentence: His final words were at the forefront of my mind.
Other Ways to Say: Dominant memory, Strong recollection
30. In living memory
Meaning: Within the time that people can remember
In a Sentence: This is the coldest winter in living memory.
Other Ways to Say: In recent history, Recalled by people
31. Commit to memory
Meaning: To memorize something intentionally
In a Sentence: I committed every word of the speech to memory.
Other Ways to Say: Learn by heart, Memorize
32. A mind like a steel trap
Meaning: A sharp, quick memory
In a Sentence: She remembers everything — she’s got a mind like a steel trap.
Other Ways to Say: Sharp memory, Retentive mind
33. Clouded memory
Meaning: A vague or unclear memory
In a Sentence: His memory of the event is clouded by time.
Other Ways to Say: Faded recollection, Blurry memory
34. On the tip of the tongue
Meaning: Almost able to remember something
In a Sentence: Her name is on the tip of my tongue!
Other Ways to Say: Almost recalled, Nearly remembered
35. Lost in the mists of time
Meaning: Forgotten due to long passage of time
In a Sentence: The origins of the ritual are lost in the mists of time.
Other Ways to Say: Forgotten history, Faded into obscurity
36. Remember like it was yesterday
Meaning: To remember very clearly
In a Sentence: I remember our wedding like it was yesterday.
Other Ways to Say: Vivid memory, Crystal clear
37. Haunt one’s memory
Meaning: A disturbing or strong memory that doesn’t fade
In a Sentence: The accident still haunts his memory.
Other Ways to Say: Linger in mind, Tormenting memory
38. Slip one’s mind
Meaning: To forget something unintentionally
In a Sentence: Sorry, your birthday just slipped my mind.
Other Ways to Say: Forgot, Overlooked
39. Burned into memory
Meaning: Permanently remembered
In a Sentence: The image of the crash was burned into her memory.
Other Ways to Say: Etched in mind, Imprinted forever
40. Fade from memory
Meaning: Gradually forget something
In a Sentence: Over time, the pain faded from memory.
Other Ways to Say: Slip away, Diminish in recall
41. Ring a bell
Meaning: To sound familiar
In a Sentence: That name rings a bell, but I can’t place it.
Other Ways to Say: Sounds familiar, Reminds me of
42. From memory
Meaning: Without looking at something; by recollection
In a Sentence: She painted the landscape entirely from memory.
Other Ways to Say: By heart, Without reference
43. In one ear and out the other
Meaning: Quickly forgotten
In a Sentence: Everything I said went in one ear and out the other.
Other Ways to Say: Not retained, Ignored
44. Refreshing memory
Meaning: Reviewing to remember something again
In a Sentence: I read the chapter again for refreshing my memory.
Other Ways to Say: Recalling, Reviewing
45. Bury in memory
Meaning: Suppress or try to forget something
In a Sentence: He tried to bury the painful memory of the war.
Other Ways to Say: Suppress, Hide from mind
46. Repressed memory
Meaning: A memory hidden due to trauma
In a Sentence: Therapy helped uncover her repressed memories.
Other Ways to Say: Hidden memory, Subconscious recall
47. Lapse in memory
Meaning: A brief failure to remember
In a Sentence: I had a lapse in memory during the exam.
Other Ways to Say: Mental block, Temporary forgetfulness
48. Short-term memory
Meaning: The ability to hold recent information briefly
In a Sentence: My short-term memory isn’t what it used to be.
Other Ways to Say: Immediate recall, Recent memory
49. Total recall
Meaning: The ability to remember everything clearly
In a Sentence: She has a total recall of every detail from the case.
Other Ways to Say: Complete memory, Photographic memory
50. Like riding a bike
Meaning: A skill or memory that comes back easily
In a Sentence: Speaking French again was like riding a bike.
Other Ways to Say: Comes naturally, Easy to recall
