out of sight, out of mind

Meaning

This proverb suggests that people or things are easily forgotten when they are no longer visible or present. In relationships, it describes how distance can cause people to grow apart or stop thinking about each other. It can also apply to habits, like hiding junk food so you do not think about eating it.

Examples

• I was worried that after I moved abroad, my old friends would adopt an out of sight, out of mind attitude.

  I was worried that after I moved abroad, my old friends would adopt an out of sight, out of mind attitude.

• Keep your phone in another room while studying; out of sight, out of mind really works for staying focused.

  Keep your phone in another room while studying; out of sight, out of mind really works for staying focused.

• She realized that once she stopped posting on social media, she became out of sight, out of mind to her acquaintances.

  She realized that once she stopped posting on social media, she became out of sight, out of mind to her acquaintances.

• I put all my winter clothes in the attic, and now they are completely out of sight, out of mind.

  I put all my winter clothes in the attic, and now they are completely out of sight, out of mind.

• Long-distance relationships are tough because there is always a fear of the out of sight, out of mind effect.

  Long-distance relationships are tough because there is always a fear of the out of sight, out of mind effect.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Out of eyes, out of mind.

  ✓ Out of sight, out of mind.

  The idiom uses the noun 'sight' (the faculty of seeing), not 'eyes' or 'view'.

• ✗ Since he left, he is out of sight and out of mind.

  ✓ Since he left, he is out of sight, out of mind.

  While grammatically correct, adding 'and' is less natural because the idiom is traditionally spoken as a parallel, comma-separated phrase.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I have to put my credit card in a drawer so I don't spend money; for me, it's a case of ___.

  💡 If you don't see it, you don't think of it.

  Show answer

  out of sight, out of mind

• Some people worry that long-distance friendships will fade because of the ___ effect.

  💡 Forgetting someone when they are not physically near.

  Show answer

  out of sight, out of mind