to change someone's mind
- phrasal verb
- Finally, Father Vaughn, Lee's own Episcopal priest, came to call, but he was unsuccessful in changing Lee's mind.
So if I'm given that data and I still can't change one's mind, I really don't know what hope there is.
- So if I'm given that data and I still can't change one's mind, I really don't know what hope there is.
- How do you go about changing someone's mind who is at a level of debating clear facts?
- But ultimately, you're not changing anyone's minds by by by reasoning and like, you know, using facts and logic and.
Examples
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He was determined to change her mind after she decided not to go to the concert.
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The paper said that short conversations with canvassers could change people's minds on gay marriage.
Academic text (2016) -
Let me know if you change your mind, okay?
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Well, if you ever change your mind...
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If you change your mind, you know where to find me.
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William also made one final effort to change his son's mind.
Academic text (2008) -
It's hard to imagine anyone changing the Prime Minister's mind.
Fiction book (2002) -
If you change your mind, Tommy, I'll be in the pool all afternoon.
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We decided not to try to change anybody's mind about that.
Academic text (2007) -
The organization tried to change their minds about the new policy by presenting data on its benefits.
Synonyms
Make someone believe something is true or agree to do something
To make someone agree or do something by giving reasons
Make someone agree to do something by giving reasons
Change your religion, or persuade someone else to do this
Change someone's mind so they do not do something
To cause someone to change their opinion or decision
Get someone to support or agree with you
To persuade someone who does not want to do something to do it
To cause someone to change their mind
Get someone to agree or do something by pressuring them
Make someone change their opinion or decision
To persuade someone to accept your idea or plan
Persuade someone to do what you want
Antonyms
How Persuasive
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase’s meaning is directly compositional: 'change' (alter) + 'someone's' (possessive) + 'mind' (opinion/decision) yields 'alter a person’s opinion or decision.' This is a common, literal construction in English (and mirrored in many other languages), so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words will readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Change someone's mind paints a simple picture: imagine the mind as a small room or sign that holds a person's choice, and change is like going in and replacing that sign. So it means 'to persuade someone to change their opinion'.