Sixth sense

Meaning

The idiom "sixth sense" refers to an intuitive or extrasensory ability to perceive or know something without the use of any of our five senses (sight, touch, hearing, taste, and smell). It is often used to describe a person who has a talent for predicting events or people's behavior.

Usage

• "Maria had a sixth sense about her patients' health issues."
• "The detective's sixth sense helped him solve the case."
• "John always knew what his customers wanted before they even asked."
• "She was able to predict the outcome of every game with an eerie accuracy."
• "Dave's sixth sense for music made him a great DJ."

Roots and History

The idiom "sixth sense" originated in the 19th century and is believed to have been influenced by spiritualism and the belief in ghosts or other supernatural entities. In earlier times, the idea of a sixth sense was more closely associated with clairvoyance or other forms of precognition.

Synonyms in English

• Intuition
• Instinct
• Predictive ability
• Empathy
• Connection

Synonyms in other languages

• Telepathy (French)
• Dotazka o smrti (Czech)
• Fähigkeit zur vorschnellen Einschätzung (German)
• Sensibilidad extrasensorial (Spanish)
• Predikce (Latvian)

Similar Idioms

• snow under

• scot-free

• spill the beans