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 • Apr. 14, 2021

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 • Aug. 22, 2014

Now the Committee will go into a brown study and emerge with a tariff bill that will try to satisfy the people back home�and Mr. Hoover.

From Time Magazine Archive

The Department of Agriculture came out of a brown study and announced its June estimates for 1925 grain crops.

From Time Magazine Archive

He seemed to have fallen into a brown study.

From With Drake on the Spanish Main by Strang, Herbert