Phrases for Forgetting to Do Something: Have you ever been in the middle of a conversation and suddenly lost your train of thought? Or had something important on the tip of your tongue but just couldn’t remember it? Well, you’re not alone! We all forget things from time to time, and English has some fun and colorful expressions to talk about. Let’s take a look at 5 phrases that will help you talk about forgetting like a pro!
Phrases for Forgetting to Do Something

1. Lose your train of thought
👉 Meaning: Forget what you were thinking, right in the middle of thinking about it.
Example: I was telling you something important, but I lost my train of thought!
2. Slip one’s mind
👉 Meaning: Forget something.
Example: I’m so sorry I didn’t call you back sooner. It totally slipped my mind!
3. Be on the tip of one’s tongue
👉 Meaning: You know that you know something, but you can’t remember it at that moment!
Example: Her name is on the tip of my tongue. Just give me a minute, I’ll remember it!
4. Ring a bell
👉 Meaning: Something is familiar, but you can’t completely remember it.
Example: Your description rings a bell, but I don’t think I’ve ever been there myself.
5. It went in one ear and out the other
👉 Meaning: Forget something as soon as you hear it.
Example: My instructions to my kids are often in one ear and out the other, especially if they have their phone in front of them!
Explore More:
- Understanding and Fixing Sentence FragmentsIn this lesson, you will be learning about sentence fragments. Ever written something that looks like …
- Synonyms, Antonyms, and Homophones: Boost Your Vocabulary!Are you ready to take your English speaking skills to the next level? One of …
- Types of Sentence Structure: Simple, Fragmented, or Run-OnIn this English Grammar lesson, you’ll be learning about sentence structure, specifically focusing on simple sentences, fragments, and run-on …
- Sentence vs. Sentence Fragments: Know the Difference!Sentences and sentence fragments! Whether you’re a student, a professional, or someone looking to improve your English …
- Why Don’t You Try the Complete Roadmap to Learn English?We will explore practical and effective steps to help you achieve fluency in English. Whether you are …