English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Mull over
Meaning
The idiom "mull over" means to think about something carefully, typically before making a decision or taking action. It can also mean to consider or contemplate something deeply. The figurative meaning of the idiom is that it involves deliberate and careful thinking, often done in order to gain a better understanding of a situation or to make a well-informed decision.
Usage
- After the job interview, I mulled over my responses to see if there were any areas where I could improve.
- We need to mull over this proposal carefully before making any decisions.
- John spent the entire evening mulling over his options for starting a business.
- I've been mulling over this problem for weeks now, but haven't come up with a solution yet.
- The manager asked me to mull over the feedback we received from our customers and make changes accordingly.
Roots and History
The phrase "mull over" has its roots in old English, where "mulen" (to brood or ponder) was used with the suffix "-oer" to mean "to do something repeatedly". The modern idiom likely emerged in the 16th century and since then, it has remained relatively unchanged in meaning.
Synonyms in English
- Ponder
- Contemplate
- Consider
- Reflect
- Muse over
Synonyms in other languages
- In French, the idiom is "méditer" which means to meditate or ponder deeply.
- In Spanish, the idiom is "ponerse en la parte alta" (to put oneself on high) which means to think about something carefully and at length.
- In German, the idiom is "denken", which simply means to think.
- In Italian, the idiom is "pensare" which means to think or contemplate.
- In Portuguese, the idiom is "murmurar" (to murmur or muse over) which has a similar meaning to mull over in English.