forget the name

Meaning

This phrase is used when you cannot remember how someone or something is called. It is a very common experience in daily life, and the phrase is used naturally in casual conversations when trying to recall a person, place, book, or movie.

Examples

• I know her face, but I always forget the name.

  I know her face, but I always forget the name.

• Don't forget the name of the hotel we are staying at.

  Don't forget the name of the hotel we are staying at.

• I always forget the name of that restaurant on Main Street.

  I always forget the name of that restaurant on Main Street.

• She apologized because she didn't want to forget the name of her new colleague.

  She apologized because she didn't want to forget the name of her new colleague.

• I read a great book last month, but I completely forget the name of it.

  I read a great book last month, but I completely forget the name of it.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I forgot his name of him.

  ✓ I forgot his name.

  'His name' already indicates possession, so adding 'of him' is redundant and incorrect.

• ✗ I am always forgetting of the name.

  ✓ I am always forgetting the name.

  The verb 'forget' is transitive and takes a direct object, so you do not need the preposition 'of' directly after it.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I always ___ of people I just met.

  💡 To fail to remember how someone is called

  Show answer

  forget the name

• Try not to ___ of the street we need to turn on.

  💡 To fail to recall the title or label

  Show answer

  forget the name