brown study

American  

noun

1. deep, serious absorption in thought.

   Lost in a brown study, she was oblivious to the noise.

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brown study British  

noun

1. a mood of deep absorption or thoughtfulness; reverie

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Etymology

Origin of brown study

First recorded in 1525–35

Example Sentences

“The Potato Eaters,” the large, mostly brown study of peasants at a humble meal that scholars consider Vincent’s first masterpiece, was hung above the fireplace.

From New York Times

Most people spend between 30 and 47 percent of their waking hours spacing out, drifting off, lost in thought, woolgathering, in a brown study or building castles in the air.

From Scientific American

When he wanted to keep a painting, he sometimes painted on the back: two brown studies for his early work The Potato Eaters have later, vibrant self-portraits on their reverse.

From The Guardian

All that day I remained buried in the deepest brown study imaginable.

From Project Gutenberg

Probably he was in a brown study about something.

From Project Gutenberg