minded

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absent-minded

Forgetful or inattentive of everyday details or duties, possibly due to a preoccupation with other thoughts. My absent-minded housemate is always lost in composing new poems and never remembers to clean the house or take out the trash! Grandpa's been quite absent-minded lately, and I'm starting to wonder if he should be living alone anymore. I know Paulina's absent-minded, that's why I left the forms on her desk with a big note telling her to sign them and hand them in!

absent-minded professor

An otherwise intelligent person who often lacks common sense or forgets or overlooks important details. Louis is brilliant, but he's such an absent-minded professor when it comes to remembering to attend important meetings. A: "She graduated summa cum laude, yet she never remembers to turn in any of these forms on time." B: "Sounds like an absent-minded professor to me." Having an organized assistant is key when you're an absent-minded professor like me!

be narrow-minded

To be rigid in one's thinking and unwilling to consider other views or possibilities. Why are you being so narrow-minded on this? Why shouldn't gay people be able to get legally married if they so choose, just like everybody else? He's a nice guy, but he can be really narrow-minded when it comes to technology. Like, he can barely use a computer. When will our elected officials stop being so narrow-minded and just abandon this initiative? The data shows that it clearly isn't working.

bloody minded

slang Petulant and argumentative in nature. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. I hate spending time with bloody minded people who have a pessimistic response to all of my ideas. Don't listen to him—he's just bloody minded, and his argument doesn't even make sense. Don't even bring that up to Uncle Ned—he gets especially bloody minded when discussing politics.

closed-minded

Not interested in or willing to accept new ideas, thoughts, opinions, etc. Over time, this profession has changed him from a trusting, optimistic youth into a bitter, closed-minded old grouch. Uncle Fred is pretty closed-minded. He won't even listen to someone who believes in things that he doesn't. When you become close-minded to new ideas, that's when you when you really start aging, no matter what age you actually are.

dirty-minded

Tending to think about or discuss sexual or lewd topics or interpret mundane things in such a way. I wasn't referring to sex at all, and you know it—quit being so dirty-minded! Well, you are dirty-minded—I'm not surprised that the first thing you thought of was a crude joke. A: "And then she compared my model rocket to a phallus." B: "Ew, gross. But she's always been dirty-minded."

mind (one's) own beeswax

To not interfere in someone else's affairs; to not pry or be nosy. Often used as an imperative. Mind your own beeswax, will you? I can take care of my problems just fine. I really wish she would mind her own beeswax and stop asking me about my finances. So there I was, minding my own beeswax, when the security guard comes over and starts asking me all kinds of questions.

mind (one's) own business

To not interfere in someone else's affairs; to not pry or be nosy. Often used as an imperative. Mind your own business, will you? I can take care of my problems just fine. I really wish she would mind her own business and stop asking me about my finances. So there I was, minding my own business, when the security guard comes over and starts asking me all kinds of questions.

mind (one's) p's and q's

To be polite and well behaved; to mind one's manners. Be sure to mind your p's and q's when you visit your aunt this weekend! The mother reminded her young children to mind their p's and q's when they went over to their friends' houses for play dates.

mind the shop

To monitor a particular place or situation, usually while the person who normally does so is away. Would you mind the shop while I'm in this meeting? One of the suspects remained at the entranceway to mind the shop while the other two began loading the stolen goods into the truck.

mind the store

To monitor a particular place or situation, usually while someone is away. Will you mind the store while I'm in this meeting?

narrow-minded

Rigid in one's thinking and unwilling to consider or tolerate other views or possibilities. Why are you so narrow-minded on this? Why shouldn't gay people be able to get legally married if they so choose, just like everybody else?

open-minded

Interested in and willing to accept new ideas, thoughts, opinions, etc. Over time, this profession has changed him from a trusting, open-minded young man into a bitter, cynical old grouch. Uncle Fred is pretty open-minded—I'm sure he'll listen to your thoughts on politics, even if he doesn't agree with them.

single-minded

1. Very dedicated and unwavering. Once school starts, Lisa is usually single-minded in her pursuit of good grades.

2. Focused on only one thing. Once school starts, Lisa is usually driven by the single-minded pursuit of good grades.

absent-minded professor

a bumbling professor who overlooks everyday things. Fred is such an absent-minded professor. He'd forget his head if it wasn't screwed on.

mind the store

and watch the store

Fig. to take care of local matters. Please stay here in the office and mind the store while I go to the conference. I had to stay home and watch the store when Ann went to Boston.

mind the store

Attend to local or family matters, as in Ask Dad for permission; he's minding the store while Mom's away. This expression transfers looking after an actual business to more general activities. [Colloquial; second half of 1900s]

mind the shop

be temporarily in charge of affairs.

mind the ˈshop

(British English) (American English mind the ˈstore) be in charge of something for a short time while somebody is away: Who’s minding the shop while the boss is abroad?

dirty-minded

mod. having a tendency to see the lewd or obscene aspects of anything; having a tendency to place an obscene interpretation on the words and actions of others. Sam is sort of dirty-minded, but he wouldn’t do anything really vile.