Is the saying train of thought or trail of thought?

The train of thought or track of thought refers to the interconnection in the sequence of ideas expressed during a connected discourse or thought, as well as the sequence itself, especially in discussion how this sequence leads from one idea to another.

Why do they say train of thought?

A succession of connected ideas, a path of reasoning, as in You’ve interrupted my train of thought; now what was I saying? This idiom, which uses train in the sense of “an orderly sequence,” was first recorded in 1651, in philosopher Thomas Hobbes’s Leviathan.

Is train of thought a metaphor?

Your thoughts are trains Think of the phrase “train of thought.” It’s a vivid metaphor that describes thought in motion. Some of these thoughts are so mundane we may not even notice them (like picking out socks in the morning).

How do you describe a stream of thoughts?

The “stream of thought,” also known as the “stream of consciousness,” refers to the constant movement and appearance of thoughts in the conscious mind. William James is said to be the first psychologist to use the term. “Consciousness” refers to the awareness of what is happening in and around us.

What is the meaning of lost my train of thought?

This month’s idiomatic expression is “I lost my train of thought.” When someone loses her train of thought, you simply wait for a few seconds to see if she remembers what she was saying, or you can both move on to a different topic of conversation.

What is a line of thinking?

line of thought: a particular way of thinking that is characteristic of some individual or group. the process of using your mind to consider something carefully.

What did William James mean by his term the stream of consciousness?

The stream of consciousness is a metaphor describing how thoughts seem to flow through the conscious mind. William James, often considered to be the father of American psychology, first coined the phrase “stream of consciousness”. The full range of thoughts—that one can be aware of—can form the content of this stream.

What is train of thought?

train of thought. A succession of connected ideas; a process of reasoning. This term appeared in Thomas Hobbes’s Leviathan (1651), and indeed Hobbes may have coined it. He defined it there as “that succession of one thought to another, which is called, to distinguish it from discourse in words, mental discourse.” It is still so used.

Why is it called “Train” and not “trail”?

The saying uses the word “train, as in “I lost my train of thought.” I haven’t researched the origin of the phrase, but it makes sense that it is “train” rather than “trail” because it alludes to a broken connection in thought.

What is a ‘trail of thought’?

A trail could be either a prepared pathway or it could refer to a path already taken. It refers to something fixed because either the trail follows a predetermined route or because it has already been followed. A ‘trail of thought’ in this sense would refer to either a mental process already followed,…

What does a train of though mean?

A train of though is a discourse of the connect of thoughts and how one builds them to a conclusion. It is the common saying. A trail of though can also be any reflection on things someone has thought about. No connection are necessary.