vaporous thought

9.0

An unclear, weak idea that is hard to hold in your mind

noun
/ˈveɪpərəs θɔt/

Literature

: pensamiento vaporoso

She tried to grasp the vaporous thought that flickered at the edge of her mind.

Examples

Writers often struggle to turn vaporous thoughts into concrete ideas.
During the lecture, his vaporous thoughts kept him from focusing on the main points.
Her idea was just a vaporous thought.
Many of his vaporous thoughts never materialized.
She tried to grasp the vaporous thought that flickered at the edge of her mind.
Writers often struggle to turn vaporous thoughts into concrete ideas.
Many of his vaporous thoughts never materialized.

Synonyms

fog in someone's mind

vsvaporous thought

1 8.2

A feeling of confusion that makes it hard to think clearly

emphasizes one vague, shapeless idea rather than an overall inability to reason

haze of confusion

vsvaporous thought

1 7.2

A state of mind when you feel unclear and cannot think or decide

focuses on a single insubstantial idea or impression rather than whole mind confusion

Antonyms

concrete

156 3.9

Real and possible to touch rather than abstract

How Clear

idea

∞ 1.0

impression

737 3.1

vaporous thought

Literature

9.0

Surface Forms

vaporous thought singular

vaporous thoughts plural

Morphology

vaporous + thought

The meaning is directly and predictably derived from combining 'vaporous' (ethereal, insubstantial) with 'thought' (an idea): it describes an idea that is unclear or lacking substance. This metaphorical mapping (ideas likened to vapor) is straightforward and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents should be able to infer the meaning.

Etymology

Vaporous thought paints a picture of a small cloud of steam or mist. Because vaporous suggests something that disappears quickly and thought means an idea, the phrase means 'an unclear or weak idea'.