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Glite Dictionary
to wash one's brain out with soap

to wash one's brain out with soap

1 9.9
To try to get rid of bad pictures or thoughts in your mind after something upsetting
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : lavarse el cerebro con jabón
  • After hearing the gruesome details, she wished she could wash her brain out with soap.

Examples

  • Sometimes I want to wash my brain out with soap after reading disturbing news online.

  • Don't wash your brain out with soap over that movie!

  • He joked that he needed to wash his brain out with soap after watching that horror movie.

  • I need to wash my brain out with soap after that news.

  • After hearing that news, I felt like I needed to wash my brain out with soap to forget the disturbing thoughts.

  • Whenever I see sensationalist headlines, I just want to wash my brain out with soap to clear my mind.

  • Sometimes, I wish there was a way to wash my brain out with soap to erase all the negativity I encounter.

Synonyms

to drown
vsto wash one's brain out with soap
  • Informal
26 6.5

Try to get rid of a bad feeling by using something else, for example drinking

aims to cleanse and remove thoughts rather than merely cover them
to wash oneself of
vsto wash one's brain out with soap
4 7.7

To get rid of feelings like guilt or blame

focuses on removing disturbing thoughts using a cleansing image
to unthink
vsto wash one's brain out with soap
1 9.3

Try to push a memory or idea out of your mind

uses a cleansing image and informal tone rather than neutral forgetting
to clear one's head
vsto wash one's brain out with soap
1 3.9

To stop thinking about upsetting or confusing thoughts to feel calmer

aims to cleanse disturbing thoughts rather than simply regain clarity
to clear someone's mind
vsto wash one's brain out with soap
1 3.7

To stop worrying and think calmly to focus

seeks to cleanse disturbing thoughts instead of only clearing distractions
to refresh my mind
vsto wash one's brain out with soap
1 3.4

To clear your head after feeling tired or distracted

targets cleansing disturbing thoughts rather than restoring tired mental energy
to give one's head a shake
vsto wash one's brain out with soap
  • Informal
8.6

Make yourself stop worrying and start thinking clearly

tries to remove disturbing thoughts by cleansing rather than a quick jolt

Antonyms

to dwell on
53 5.2

To think or talk a lot about something upsetting

How Clear

psychotherapy
  • Specialized
24 5.8
to wash one's brain out with soap
  • Informal
1 9.9
to forget
∞ 1.8
to distract
513 2.1

Surface Forms

wash one's brain out with soap infinitive
washed one's brain out with soap past
washed one's brain out with soap past participle
washing one's brain out with soap present participle
washes one's brain out with soap third person singular

Morphology

wash + one + brain + out + with + soap

The expression applies the concrete action of washing (with soap) to 'brain', creating a clear metaphor of cleansing or ridding the mind of unwanted thoughts; a learner who knows the constituents can likely infer the general idea of 'cleaning one's mind' from the parts. However, the usage is figurative and informal, and some pragmatic nuance (degree, tone, or cultural reference to similar punishments) may not be fully predictable, so it is not fully transparent.

Etymology

Wash one's brain out with soap comes from the image of trying to wash the brain with soap, like washing dirt from your head after seeing something bad. So it means 'to try to get rid of unpleasant thoughts'.