Etymology Journal ยท A
A penny for your thoughts
Meaning
- A friendly way of asking someone what they are thinking about. It is used when someone seems quiet or lost in deep contemplation.
Curious, gentle
Used in a sentence
- You have been quiet all morning, a penny for your thoughts?
- A penny for your thoughts, you look like you are a thousand miles away.
- I see you staring out the window, a penny for your thoughts.
The backstory
This dates back to at least the 16th century. It was originally a way to offer a small payment in exchange for a person's private reflection.
Heard in
Nationwide
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