to make up one's mind
102
3.2
- phrasal verb
:
decidirse
- After considering all the options, she finally decided to make up her mind about her college major.
Examples
-
I tell him to stop, but he's already made up his mind, so I go after him.
Fiction book (1996) -
I've been trying to make up my mind all night.
-
- You gotta make up your mind.
-
Will you make up your mind?
-
Neither can he make up his mind.
-
It's as if he is trying to make up his mind about her.
Fiction book (1993) -
What information do you want from me to help you make up your mind?
Fiction book (1995) -
Take as long as you want to make up your mind; you can call me at the office.
Fiction book (1991) -
I'll give you till tomorrow morning at eight to make up your mind.
Fiction book (1995) -
All right, Lola, make up your mind.
Synonyms
∞
1.0
Pick one thing or person from a group
∞
1.0
To make a choice after thinking about the options
485
3.2
To officially decide a dispute or question
274
1.0
To choose what to do after thinking about the options
218
3.2
To choose one thing from two or more options
63
3.5
Choose one thing from several available
18
2.7
Choose what to do after thinking about the choices
13
3.0
To make a final decision after thinking
1
3.9
To pick one thing after thinking about the choices
1
2.9
To choose what to do after thinking about the options
Antonyms
How Decisive
- Formal
485
3.2
81
3.4
102
3.2
318
2.5
15
8.3
Surface Forms
Morphology
The components 'make' (to cause or form) and 'mind' (opinion/decision) combine to give a plausible compositional sense of 'forming/producing a decision', and the particle 'up' adds a sense of completion — so a learner who knows the parts can often infer the meaning. However, the phrase is a conventionalized phrasal construction whose exact usage and object-taking pattern (make up one's mind) is somewhat idiomatic and may not be fully predictable without exposure, so it is only partially transparent.
Etymology
The phrase make up one's mind comes from the idea of make up meaning 'to put parts together' and mind meaning 'your thoughts'. Imagine putting pieces together in your head until the picture is clear, so it means 'to decide'.