“Out of sight, out of mind”: meaning, origin and examples
What it means
The phrase means that if something or someone is not visible or present, it is easier to forget about it or them.
Tone Dismissive
Where it comes from
The expression has been in use since at least the 13th Century. The first known printed reference is from 1562, found in John Heywood’s Woorkes.
Examples
- After moving to a new city, she stopped worrying about her old apartment. Out of sight, out of mind.
- He left his work desk tidy every night, believing that the messier paperwork was out of sight, out of mind.
Spotted a mistake in this article? Tell us