to speak one's mind
- idiom
- Informal
- Don't hesitate to speak your mind during the meeting; your input is valuable.
Examples
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Don't be afraid to speak your mind when he is wrong.
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At least he stands up and speaks his mind, with belief and fervor.
Blog text (33) -
You can finally speak your mind
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I wanted to tell you how much I appreciate you speaking your mind.
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Let her speak her mind, doctor.
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In the end, she decided to speak her mind.
Fiction book (1993) -
Now speak your minds and be done with it.
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If you have any real interest in conducting, you need to be able to speak your mind.
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So even in an election year, I have no qualms about her speaking her mind in these matters.
Blog text (2) -
Etta spoke her mind, and when she laughed, it came from her heart.
Fiction book (2002)
Synonyms
To say your opinion or feelings openly even when it is difficult
To say something aloud, especially an opinion or feeling
Begin to talk honestly about your thoughts and feelings
Give your opinion clearly and firmly even when it is difficult
To show an opinion in public by what you wear or do
To show strong feelings, especially when angry
To say what you think about something
To say your thoughts or views aloud in public
To put thoughts or feelings into words
Say something honestly and with strong feeling
Talk honestly without hiding facts or feelings
To speak clearly and honestly about something even if it is unpleasant
Speak or act confidently so people notice and respect you
Express strong feelings or complaints openly
To express your personal views about a subject
To say how you feel or what you need instead of using actions
Speak for a long time in a strong way about your opinions to others
Antonyms
How Direct
- Informal
- Informal
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly built from 'speak' (to talk) + 'one's mind' (one's own thoughts or opinions), so a learner who knows the constituents can infer it means to express one's thoughts openly. This is a common, compositional possessive + noun pattern found across languages, making it readily comprehensible to a B1 learner.
Etymology
Speak one's mind comes from the clear image of saying aloud what is in your head: to speak the thoughts inside your mind. So it means 'to say honestly what you think or feel'.