What is the Difference Between "On your mind" and "In your mind"?
Facebook asks you in its status box, "What's on your mind?". What is the exact meaning of it? If I am talking about my current thoughts in this moment, then I should say in my mind.. right!? or Can I also use "On my mind"? If no, then how "On your mind" is different from "In your mind"?
In my mind means that you are seeing something in your mind, visualizing something, it's like you have an idea that you can see in your mind. It;s like what you see in your mind's eye. Seeing something in your mind might be a great idea or a great way do something in a different way. A ah ha moment so to speak
On your mind is what are you thinking about, is there anything that you are worrying about, are you concentrating on a situaton. On your mind might have the sense of heaviness on your mind, something that you are carrying on your mind.
What's on your mind usually means a person is evaluating or contemplating something. "When is this bad weather going to end?" or "I can't wait to leave for vacation tonight."
(What's on your mind is what you're presently thinking about)
In my mind generally means a person has reached a conclusion. "In my mind I was doing the right thing." or "In my mind this is the way to go." (This refers to one's opinions or beliefs about something)
I read this question yesterday and didn't answer, but I kept thinking about it all day at work and this is what I came up with. This is only my way of describing the phrases.
When I tell someone or write "in my mind", it usually proceeds me giving an opinion on a topic. Example: In my mind, all politicians are liars. It's usually a topic I don't think about unless someone brings it up.
If I have something "on my mind", it's something I've been doing a lot of thinking about even if I haven't discussed it with anyone. Example: The plot for my next novel has been on my mind for the past month or so.
It is difficult to define some terms without using part of the phrase itself. I can see how difficult it must be to learn the English language.
Both what is meant by phrases like this and what is understood by a reader/hearer can have a lot to do with the region they are from or currently live in, so it's helpful to have more info and/or a context when determining a useful response.
Now let's see, what's on your mind, Rohan? It's understood as 'what are you thinking about?' Colloquially it can also mean 'what's bothering you?' "Now what's on your mind lad, you look as if you've got a problem/you're troubled?"
'In your mind' might be a mental problem, i.e, "It's all in the mind", said dismissively about people with social, fixational or drugs problems. As in when someone gets worked up about certain issues, is obsessive or dysfunctional. It's rarely used here for someone who just has an issue with understanding what's happening or with trouble understanding, full stop.
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