train of thought

Idioms  

1. A succession of connected ideas, a path of reasoning, as in You've interrupted my train of thought; now what was I saying? This idiom, which uses train in the sense of “an orderly sequence,” was first recorded in 1651, in philosopher Thomas Hobbes's Leviathan.

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Example Sentences

I watched them as I waited for our meeting to begin, engaging in a train of thought I’d often followed since my brother died: Who among them is grieving?

From Slate • Apr. 23, 2026

It can be embarrassing, he says, when he loses his train of thought or when someone reminds him he’s already told a story.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

There is a train of thought that Scottish football, for all its drama, intrigue and excitement, wasn't always the best quality.

From BBC • Aug. 7, 2025

While talking about his sophomore album, “Kansas Anymore,” Pillsbury suddenly lost his train of thought and, through his phone’s camera, a panicked smile takes over his typically sarcastic composure.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 28, 2025

Sometimes I’ll still say riddle for little, or bent for vent, though without any accent and so whoever’s present just thinks I’ve momentarily lost my train of thought.

From "Native Speaker" by Chang-rae Lee

Related Words

• acumen
• analysis
• argument
• hypothesis
• inference
• interpretation
• premise
• proposition
• rationale
• thinking