one-track mind
5
6.2
- noun
- /ˈwʌn træk maɪnd/
- Informal
:
mente unilateral
- When it comes to his project, he really has a one-track mind and ignores all distractions.
- got a one-track mind
Examples
-
Her one-track mind makes it hard for her to consider other opinions.
-
He has such a one-track mind; he only thinks about winning the championship.
-
Who says I have a one-track mind.
-
Men have a one-track mind.
-
Boy, you have a one-track mind.
-
Our patient seems to have a one-track mind.
-
You and that one-track mind of yours.
-
So my brain suddenly goes back to business because sometimes I have a one-track mind.
Fiction book (1997) -
You have a one-track mind.
Fiction book (1990) -
I have a one-track mind, don't I?
Synonyms
3
6.0
Being very focused on one goal without getting distracted
3
7.0
Thinking about something too much and doing the same thing again and again
1
9.9
A very strong interest in one thing that makes someone ignore other things
Too much focus on one task or idea that causes other things to be ignored
Being too focused on one idea or activity
Antonyms
How Focused
262
5.1
3
6.0
- Informal
5
6.2
794
3.5
1
7.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
one-track + mind
The phrase combines the idea of a single "track" or course with "mind" to mean a mind that follows only one line of thought, so the metaphor is understandable from the parts. However, using "track" metaphorically for a line of thought and the compounded form "one-track" may not be fully predictable to a B1 learner without prior exposure, so the expression is only partially transparent.
Etymology
One-track mind may come from the image of a mind moving on a single track, like a train that can only go one way. That's why it means 'to focus on only one idea or goal' and ignore other things.